Meaningful Use Attestation

The CMS has extended the MU attestation deadline of the Medicare EHR incentive program for eligible professionals from February 28, 2014 to March31, 2014.

Meaningful Use Attestation

According to the health information technology, the meaningful use attestation is to document which an organization demonstrated the meaningful use and fulfilling the requirements for the EHR and related technology successfully.

Generally, the attestation is to validate about something which is true. The health care organization is supposed to demonstrate meaningful use to be eligible for payments under the Medicare or Medicaid EHR incentive program from the federal government. The list of electronic health record products have compiled by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT with the Center for Medicare and Medicaid EHR services used for meaningful use attestation under the program of CMS Medicaid and Medicare EHR incentive.

According to the HITECH act of 2009, organizations which are eligible for the Medicare EHR incentive program, should attest to the meaningful use by 2014 to be eligible for the incentive payments of EHR. The CMS and ONC have established all the criteria. The eligibility for the Medicaid program must have to demonstrate meaningful use by 2016 for the payment receiving.

It is beneficial to get started with the end result in mind when preparing for the meaningful use attestation.

Preparation and Planning for MU Attestation

·        Carefully go through the Meaningful Use requirements at the beginning of your attestation period and check it every after 30 days to keep away from the overlook anything

·        Always remember that the period of attestation is of 90 consecutive days

·        Always keep your stuff in a file folder with a backup hard copy.

·        Schedule to run the reports of meaningful use on a weekly basis for every eligible doctor

As the deadline of meaningful use attestation is extended till March 31, 2014, the providers got some more time to submit their meaningful use data to receive the incentive payment for the program year of 2013 plus to avoid the payment adjustment of 2015.

Attestation Procedure

There is an attestation and registration system for the eligible professionals to submit their meaningful use attestations. It is necessary to attest before March 31, 2014 to meet with the program deadline of 2013. The eligible hospitals must have to contact with CMS for assistance submitting their attestation.

Resources

There are resources available for the eligible professionals who are working on their attestation for the 2013 period.

·        Stage 1 meaningful use calculator

·        Website of EHR incentive program

·        User guide for the registration and attestation

Other than that, the information center of EHR is open for attestation with all the attestation and registration system inquiries.

Tips

There are also some tips which help the professionals keep their process easier for themselves.

·        Make sure that your relevant information is up to date in the Medicare payment system

·        Make sure that you have given the valid contact details in the registration of EHR program

·        Just sign up on attestation and registration system and make sure that you are provided information is correct and up to date and start entering your 2013 data

·        If you have any queries or facing problems, just call the EHR incentive program help desk or report the problem.

Luckily, the 2014 certified EHR will going to have a reporting system for everyone which will help them to keep reporting for every provider in their practice organized.

CCHIT 2014

The main mission of CCHIT organization is to accelerate the adoption of Health Information Technology.

 

CCHIT 2014

Certification Commission Health Information Technology was founded to promote the extensive adoption of health information technology. It has been established the detailed, practical and required capabilities, it also the certifying EHR system. The development of certification criteria is through the consensus-based procedures which allow it officially to get recognized by the federal government.

CCHIT offers three main parts to certify. The recent path is intended to get the extensive availabilities for the technology of EHR. These three paths include;

·        Certified CCHIT

·        Certification which is independently developed

·        ONC-ATCB certification

This programs tests detailed EHR and their modules against the Final issues with the EHR certification program and ONC.

Announcement about New Strategic Direction

At the end of the January, 2014, the Certification Commission Health Information Technology announced the new strategic directions for supporting the adoption of interoperable health information technology. The planning of CCHIT is to offer the counsel to health IT and health care providers as per requirement of certified EHR technology. CCHIT also generates new programs and policies to gain interoperability and to support change to transform healthcare and health positively.

CCHIT also gets alliance with HIMSS to get the advantage of its understanding about health care provider and the requirements of HIT industry, also increases the chances of CCHIT’s success programs.

Authorization for 2014 EHR Certification and Testing Program

The CCHIT announced on Jan 11, that it is authorized by the Office for National Coordinator for Health Information Technology for the program of ONC HIT certification, 2014 edition.

As per the requirements of certifications, the EHR vendors must possess tested products by a recognized laboratory and also the certified by an authorized certification organization. According to the Jan. 11 statement, CCHIT serves as the newly updated testing processes and the materials of certifications which meet the terms with ONC 2014 edition.

CCHIT reported about its 2014 program which is open and accepting the applications for the certification and testing of EHR with the services which are including the new ONC 2014 edition.

EHR Certification and Testing are Stopped

According to the press release, the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology is not going to further recognize or test the EHR systems; rather it will focus on the efforts of global health information technology, in combination with the Health Information Management Systems Society.

The certification of EHR is being done by the CCHIT since 2006 and has become the certifying body with the ONC in 2012.

According to Alisa Ray, CCHIT executive director, more than 300 products are being certified by the CCHIT for ONC 2014 certification, whereas 70 products are in the process of certification. The application for certifications is being stopped for taking by the CCHIT and seems to accomplish the pending certifications by May, 2014. The CCHIT program has certified the 77 products of commission by independent CCHIT program, and these certifications will remain legal till December 31, 2014.

Benefits and Possible Issues

One of the most important and essential benefits of the Certification Commission Health Information Technology certified is to get the access to HITECH act stimulus patients and to get assurance of a high quality EMR system which fulfill all the requirements of functionality, security needs and interoperability. The product could be CCHIT certified for e-prescribing but not for the care of inpatient, in that case it will not be qualified for the stimulus fund facility. That is the reason that it is important to understand about the high cost of certified EHR Software which could be higher than other non-certified products.