Physicians have less than a month to apply for a hardship exception for the federal electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program. Apply by Nov. 30 to avoid next year’s payment adjustments for not demonstrating meaningful use.
Physicians who have never participated in the meaningful use program may find this opportunity particularly helpful because they will face penalties in 2015 if they did not attest by Oct. 1.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently reopened the submission period for hardship exception applications as a result of AMA advocacy. Previously, the hardship application deadline was April 1 for hospitals and July 1 for physicians.
If you’re unsure whether you have met all the requirements to demonstrate meaningful use this year, be sure to apply for the exception by the end of the month.
Read more about how to submit an application and the hardship exemption categories at AMA Wire®.
The AMA continues to seek greater flexibility in the meaningful use program and has outlined four key changes in a blueprint for Stage 3 of the program.
The AMA also supports H.R. 5481, legislation that would shorten the 2015 reporting period for the meaningful use program from one year to 90 days. In addition, the AMA continues to push for program revisions that include no longer compelling physicians to meet 100 percent of the program’s requirements in order to avoid a penalty and seeking ways to simplify the various Medicare quality reporting requirements.
The association also is working to address the eight top challenges to EHR usability as part of its Professional Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability initiative.
