The calendar heralds a new month today, a month that brings shorter days and cooler nights. This year, October also brings an unusual deadline. As counted down on the CMS website, two days remain to begin the meaningful use reporting period if you intend to report year 1 in 2012. As you may recall, providers reporting their first year of meaningful use are able to choose any continuous 90-day period within the calendar year to report 20 Stage 1 objectives. October 3 is the last day that reporting period can begin if you plan to ring in the New Year as a successful year 1 meaningful user.
At stake is the passing of the last opportunity to qualify for the maximum Medicare incentive. Starting the program in 2012 allows the Medicare provider to earn the entire $44,000 over five years. Postpone year 1 reporting until 2013 and the maximum incentive declines to $39,000 over four years. Note the penalty phase of the program begins in 2015. As discussed a few weeks ago, CMS plans to survey provider behavior next year in order to determine who is subject to the 1% physician fee schedule reduction in 2015.
Medicare EHR Incentive Schedule
Results to Date
Last year we saw a late surge in the number of providers demonstrating meaningful use. This year appears to be finishing in the same fashion. Of interest, CMS continues to report monthly totals for the program. The latest data is current through August of this year and reports results since the inception of the program. During the first 20 months of the incentive program, CMS has paid over $7 billion dollars to hospitals and eligible professionals who have successfully demonstrated the meaningful use of a certified EHR. Nephrologists have had a seat at this table.
The vast majority of nephrologists have taken the Medicare path to meaningful use. Through the end of August roughly 1,600 nephrologists have collected over $28 million dollars for their participation in the meaningful use program in 2011 and 2012. Providers taking the Medicare path to meaningful use are captured in the table below.
Meaningful Use Incentives Paid Through August 2012
October 3rd
Last year we saw a mad dash for the finish line as providers rushed to meet the year-end deadline. With the decline in the incentive structure approaching in 2013, the surge of those demonstrating meaningful use at the end of 2012 could be even greater than what we experienced in 2011. If you find yourself in this position, Wednesday is the deadline to start your 90-day reporting period.
With the end of the year just around the corner, you’ll want to take advantage of all that October brings—especially the last opportunity to qualify for the full meaningful use incentive.
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