MEDICARE EHR INCENTIVE PROGRAM – MEANINGFUL USE ATTESTATION

Project Scope:

A well-known Houston area cardiovascular medical practice needed assistance in understanding and complying with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s (CMS) Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program. The Medicare EHR Incentive Program provides incentive payments to eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAH) that show a meaningful use of certified EHR technology. Participation in the program by eligible professionals must begin in 2012 in order for them to receive the maximum incentive payments. Starting in 2015, eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and CAHs who do not successfully demonstrate meaningful use will be impacted by payment adjustments in their Medicare reimbursements.

Project Approach:

Horn Solutions developed a project plan specific to the cardiovascular medical practice for compliance with the Medicare EHR Incentive program. This plan included:

1. Educating the Practice Administrator on the Medicare EHR Incentive program, critical dates, and eligibility criteria applicable to the practice.

2. Performing an assessment on the current state of the practice’s certified EHR system.

3. Identifying areas of concern or non-compliance.

4. Performing a root-cause analysis and developing corrective processes for implementation by the Practice Administrator.

5. Monitoring and reviewing of the improved processes.

6. Project Benefits/Savings:

Upon final completion of this project, the cardiovascular practice’s eligible professionals will have a successful attestation of their meaningful use of certified EHR technology, and will be eligible to receive their first installment of the EHR Medicaid incentive payments.