Recommendations for Medicare and Medicaid equity measures under development focus on standardized data collection and opportunities for testing and feedback.

The proposed rule builds on a CMS final rule on interoperability and patient access; it would leverage application programming interfaces to improve patients’ access to their electronic health information and reduce burden on providers related to prior authorization.

The report, mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act, highlights issues and challenges pertaining to the use of health information technology and electronic health records (EHRs) in four categories: clinical documentation; usability and the user experience; EHR reporting; and public health reporting.

Despite a growing awareness of the impact of social determinants of health on patient health outcomes, the CMS study found challenges to consistent data collection, including a lack of standardized screening tools and inconsistent use of electronic health record codes.

The final rule requires hospitals to create discharge plans for all inpatients and some outpatients and excludes several burdensome requirements that were included in the proposed rule.

America’s Essential Hospitals urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to reduce administrative burden regarding clinical documentation, health information technology, and public health reporting.

The rule increases inpatient operating payment rates by 3.1 percent, makes other payment and quality reporting policy changes, and estimates a $140 million increase in Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments.

A House letter calling for a delay of Medicaid disproportionate share hospital payment cuts has 178 bipartisan signatures; the deadline to sign is May 3. A House committee holds the first congressional hearing on the Medicare for All Act.

The Office for Civil Rights updated its website with new guidance related to health information technology access rights under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The guidance is particularly relevant given the push for increased patient access through third-party applications.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology extended to June 3 the deadlines for commenting on two proposed rules related to interoperability, patient access to health information, and information blocking.

Lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation to give states additional support for combating the opioid crisis by extending Medicaid's certified community behavioral health clinic demonstration program. Committees remain focused on prescription drug prices.

The proposals aim to increase interoperability and improve patients’ access to their health information, while reducing regulatory burden on hospitals.

The report, by America’s Essential Hospitals and six other national hospital associations, highlights the importance of interoperability and outlines six pathways to ensure health information technology systems can seamlessly communicate.

The Department of Health and Human Services released a request for information on ways to modify the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to improve care coordination, promote value-based care, and reduce regulatory burden on providers.

America’s Essential Hospitals highlighted the unique role essential hospitals play in treating individuals with social risk factors.

The final rule increases Medicare inpatient payment rates to acute care hospitals by 1.85 percent, revises electronic health record requirements, and changes the payment adjustment methodology for the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

Medicare-eligible hospitals have until July 1 to apply for exception—and avoid a negative payment adjustment—for the 2019 payment adjustment year.

The new proposed IPPS rule for FY 2019 contains numerous policy and payment changes, including increasing net inpatient payment rates by 1.75 percent.

A new proposed rule for Medicare’s Inpatient Prospective Payment System for fiscal year 2019 would increase inpatient operating payment rates by 1.75 percent.

The new resources for Medicare-eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals include details about submitting data through QualityNet and information on clinical quality measures.

The live session, on Feb. 8, will provide information on the upcoming transition to the QualityNet Secure Portal for hospitals participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program.

Hospital staff participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program will learn how to register, attest, and submit measures using the QualityNet Secure Portal.

The document explains hospital payment adjustments under the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program; adjustments are applied as a reduction to the hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System percentage increase for FY 2018.

The committees were convened at the direction of the Department of Health and Human Services and include representatives from members of America’s Essential Hospitals.

Merit-based Incentive Payment System–eligible clinicians and groups may apply for hardship exceptions due to connectivity issues or extreme circumstances, such as disasters.

The new rule would affect inpatient operating payments, Medicare disproportionate share hospital payments, and the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program.

Exceptions are available for Merit-based Incentive Payment System eligible clinicians and groups that experienced insufficient internet connectivity, uncontrollable circumstances, or other issues; applications are due Oct. 1.

America’s Essential Hospitals encourages CMS to improve transparency, risk adjust, and reduce regulatory burden for essential hospitals.

The Health Care Industry Cybersecurity Task Force outlines resources and the importance of cybersecurity to patient safety and continuity of operations.

The updates include guidance on reporting ransomware and note how Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliance can protect from an attack.

Ransomware, a type of malware that infects computers and restricts access to files until a ransom is paid, has hit health care organizations in the United Kingdom.

The update for the 2018 performance year aligns electronic clinical quality measure specifications with current clinical guidelines and code systems.

The rule would raise inpatient operating payment rates, revise Medicare DSH payment methodology, and apply a transitional methodology for HRRP penalties.

The rule contains provisions on the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program, Medicare DSH, the Inpatient Quality Reporting program, and more.

Eligible hospitals and professionals now have until March 13 to attest to the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program.

Hospitals now have until March 13 — instead of Feb. 28 — to submit electronic clinical quality measure data from 2016 to CMS.

The changes, which reflect stakeholder feedback and the large volume of changes to ICD-10 in FY 2017, will be available on the National Library of Medicine’s Value Set Authority Center this month.

Hospitals can request an exemption from the electronic clinical quality measure reporting requirement in the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.

Under the rule, CMS would increase the OPPS payment rate by 1.65 percent and provide flexibility in the meaningful use of EHRs, among other things.

Under the rule, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology now can conduct direct surveillance of certified health information technology.

Hospitals and eligible professionals now can register to submit National Health Care Survey data in 2017.

ONC has released a web-based resource that gives providers comprehensive, easy-to-understand information about applying health information technology.

The proposed rule updates the payment rate for services provided in hospital outpatient departments and provisions relating to quality reporting.

Providers have until July 1 to apply for a hardship exception to avoid a penalty for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

Fact sheet and updated frequently asked questions document detail responsibilities of covered entities and the rights of individuals under HIPAA.

Hospitals, providers can claim exclusions for public health meaningful use measures to avoid inadvertent penalties from the 2015 EHR Incentive Program final rule.

Agency's decision to extend deadline to July 1 gives eligible hospitals an additional three months to file for an exception.

Eligible hospitals now have until March 11 to show meaningful use of EHR technology or face a Medicare payment adjustment in 2017.

New, streamlined process requires less information from hospitals for application; deadline to apply is April 1.

Agencies seek information on quality reporting to help reduce the burden on eligible hospitals and providers; comments are due Feb. 1.

CMS now able to grant categorical exceptions to essential providers and hospitals that did not meet 2015 requirements; hospital applications due April 1.

Eligible hospitals have until Dec. 31 to submit data through QualityNet for the Inpatient Quality Reporting and Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive programs.

In three FAQs, agency provides guidance on how to attest to health information exchange and patient electronic access measures, as well as objectives that require patient action.

In an FAQ, CMS offers alternate exclusions for newly finalized measures in the public health reporting objective that were not previously required or are unfeasible to implement in 2015.

Key provisions in the final rule include calendar year reporting, 90-day reporting period in 2015, and details for stage 3 meaningful use requirements.

In its Shared Nationwide Interoperability Roadmap, ONC presents an action plan that will move the health care system toward the free exchange of health information to improve the provision of health care.

The rule finalizes proposals from the stage 3 proposed rule and the proposed rule modifying the programs from 2015 to 2017. Changes include a 90-day reporting period, fewer hospital objectives, and a lower threshold for patient electronic access.

Updates cover exclusions for submitting electronic immunization data and applicability of submitting summary of care documents for transferring patients.

GAO report identifies these challenges and reviews nonfederal initiatives to overcome them. Some of the initiatives suggest that criteria for EHR certification in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs isn't sufficient for interoperability.

Providers may be exempt from a payment adjustment for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs if they switch certified EHR technology vendors or their vendor is decertified during the program year.

Rule includes a net increase in IPPS payment rates of 0.9 percent, Medicare DSH cuts of $1.2 billion in FY 2016, and updates to the HAC Reduction, Hospital VBP, IQR, and EHR Incentive programs.

Previously, hospitals reporting for the first time had to wait until Jan. 1, 2016 to attest. Hospitals will report for a 90-day period using 2014 stage 1 requirements.

In comments to CMS, America's Essential Hospitals also urged the agency to finalize a 90-day reporting period for all providers in 2015 and lower the threshold of the patient electronic access measure.

In comments on the agency’s proposals for stage 3 of the EHR Incentive Programs, the association called on CMS to delay finalizing the proposed rule and to provide much-needed flexibility for providers in the program.

The call will discuss updates to electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) used in quality reporting programs and the impact of their implementation for providers and quality leaders.

The rule includes provisions on several topics, including a payment update, Medicare disproportionate share hospital cuts, Medicare payment for short inpatient hospital stays, and the Readmissions Reduction Program.

The rules detail requirements for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, including a requirement for all providers to transition to stage 3 by 2018.

Hospitals that did not meet reporting requirements in 2014 and do not receive exception could face smaller IPPS payment increases in 2016

The funding aims to improve health care delivery through health information interoperability, training, and shared learning resources.

Changes to the rule will include shortening the reporting period for eligible hospitals and professionals to 90 days

Hospitals must prove meaningful use in 2014 to receive a 2014 incentive payment and avoid a 1 percent payment adjustment in 2016.

FAQ clarifies that qualifying summary of care documentation may be transmitted through a third party, as long as it is created using CEHRT and transmitted through CEHRT capabilities or using an eHealth Exchange participant

Eligible professionals and hospitals can claim a hardship exception for not demonstrating meaningful use of CEHRT. Applications are due Nov. 30.

Hospitals will be chosen for pre and postpayment audits at random or through a risk profile. CMS encourages hospitals to keep data for six years.

CMS clarifies that for measure 2 of the summary of care objective, transitions of care involving a third party can be used when certain requirements are met.

Webinar will be held Thursday, Oct. 2, 1 – 2 pm ET. Registration is required.

The association joined a letter to HHS asking for a 90-day EHR reporting period for FY 2015.

The webinar, to be held, Sept. 16, 2:30 - 3:30 pm ET, will include the CMS 2014 CEHRT flexibility final rule and the ONC 2014 edition certification criteria final rule.

ONC issued a final rule including 10 optional criteria and 2 revised criteria for the 2014 edition EHR certification criteria. The goal is to reduce regulatory burden, increase flexibility, and enhance EHR interoperability and information exchange.

CMS and ONC finalize extension of stage 2 meaningful use requirements and give providers flexibility for reporting via 2011 or 2014 certified EHR technology.

Interactive resource for eligible hospitals participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Care Record (EHR) Incentive Program will help hospitals report clinical quality measures for 2014.

The tool helps providers determine their potential options for implementing the 2014 edition of certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT).

CMS is inviting interested stakeholders to review and comment on a hospitalwide all-cause unplanned readmission hybrid electronic clinical quality measure.

Health IT Policy Committee Meaningful Use Workgroup seeks input from users on meaningful use experiences to help optimize stage 3 requirements. The group is accepting comments on a recent blog post.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology released a proposed rule May 20 delaying stage 2 meaningful use implementation and adding flexibility for Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs.

America’s Essential Hospitals would like to hear from its members on their experiences and difficulties with stages 1 and 2 so that we can convey any concerns to CMS and the HIT Policy Committee as they finalize stage 3 recommendations.

CMS will release an interim final rule requiring the use of ICD-10 beginning Oct. 1, 2015. The rule will require the continued use of ICD-9, Clinical Modification, through Sept. 30, 2015. The Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 forbade CMS from adopting ICD-10 prior to Oct. 1, 2015, which is one year after CMS originally planned to implement it.

CMS officials will how stage 3 will affect care delivery. Other topics include administrative simplification, alignment of electronically specified quality measures, and information governance for health care.

The report identified a total of 17 domains that should be considered for inclusion in all EHRs. These domains are related to sociodemographic factors, psychological factors, behavioral factors, individual-level social relationships and living conditions, and neighborhoods and communities. IOM will release a phase 2 report that will recommend specific measures.

CMS released new tools for hospitals participating in stages 1 or 2 of the EHR incentive programs. The tools are a 2014 stage 1 changes tip sheet, a stage 2 calculator, and a batch reporting method guide.

As part of the meaningful use program, participating hospitals must report data for eCQMs that cover three of six National Quality Strategy domains. The original eCQM specifications were released in 2012 and are updated annually.

Beginning Oct. 1, hospitals to face fiscal year 2015 penalties for failing to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records by July 1, 2014. Hospitals encountering obstacles beyond their control may apply for a hardship exception.

CMS will host a National Provider Call March 18, from 1:30 to 3 pm Eastern time, on 2014 Medicare quality reporting programs. During the call, officials will provide an overview of how to report quality measures in various Medicare programs, including those for electronic health records incentives and accountable care organizations.

The updated FAQ will help providers calculate ED admissions for meaningful use measures. CMS also released new FAQs that cover reporting information related to clinical quality measures, meaningful use objectives requiring patient action, and transition of care in the summary of care objective.

Providers will avoid 2015 penalties for failing to meet 2014 requirements due to hardships. Specific hardships are lack of availability of 2014 certified technology, lack of time to update current products, and lack of ability to incorporate stage 2 requirements into workflows.

America’s Essential Hospitals asked HHS to extend provider timelines to meet EHR program requirements. The association, along with nearly 50 other provider groups, said that providers need more time to safely and accurately meet software requirements. They also said that adding flexibility to MU requirements would help providers achieve success in the program.

CMS and ONC have introduced the Randomizer for providers demonstrating stage 2 of meaningful use in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. The Randomizer allows hospitals and professionals to exchange data with a test EHR.

CMS is allowing hospitals to retroactively attest to meaningful use of EHR technology as part of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. Eligible hospitals that previously experienced difficulty attesting must contact CMS by March 15 to be eligible to receive incentive payments for the 2013 program year and avoid the 2015 payment adjustment.

Hospitals will have through FY 2016 to meet Stage 2 requirements

Rule finalizes several Outpatient Prospective Payment System provisions

Curated EHR Incentive Program resources to help members with HIT adoption

Standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for stage 1

The final rule modifies stage 1 meaningful use criteria for hospitals and eligible professionals

The ONC policy committee requested comments regarding stage 3 Meaningful Use criteria

Medscape created this tool to help you test your own knowledge and skills related to the EHR incentives program.

Hospitals were urged to attest that they have meaningfully used certified EHR technology

Nearly three-quarters of the hospitals awarded a payment were new to the program

Hospitals were urged to attest that they have meaningfully used certified EHR technology by Nov. 30

Groups say small and rural providers might not have enough time to implement changes

Rule proposes several outpatient prospective payment system provisions