Apply Now for EHR Meaningful Use Hardship Exemption

Abstract

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the applications for meaningful use hardship exemptions.Physicians who qualify for a hardship exemption must apply by March 15; hospitals must apply by April 1 to avoid being penalized in 2017. Exemptions may be granted for those facing infrastructure-related problems, unforeseen circumstances, lack of face-to-face interactions, or lack of available certified electronic health record systems.As part of the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act, passed in December 2015, CMS will be able to process blocks of applications instead of processing them on a case-by-case basis, as CMS was required to do prior to the new law.Applications and instructions are available at www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/paymentadj_hardship.html.Gregory Twachtman is a reporter with Frontline Medical News. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the applications for meaningful use hardship exemptions. Physicians who qualify for a hardship exemption must apply by March 15; hospitals must apply by April 1 to avoid being penalized in 2017. Exemptions may be granted for those facing infrastructure-related problems, unforeseen circumstances, lack of face-to-face interactions, or lack of available certified electronic health record systems. As part of the Patient Access and Medicare Protection Act, passed in December 2015, CMS will be able to process blocks of applications instead of processing them on a case-by-case basis, as CMS was required to do prior to the new law. Applications and instructions are available at www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/paymentadj_hardship.html. Gregory Twachtman is a reporter with Frontline Medical News.