MeHI Newsletter
MeHI PROGRAM ANNOUNCEMENTS
Avoid Thousands of Dollars in Penalties by
Reporting via MeHI's PQRS Registry

Professionals who receive Medicare Part B reimbursements need to report PQRS measures by the end of March to avoid thousands of dollars in penalties. MeHI offers a simple and easy solution that will help you report on time.

The deadline is fast approaching!

MeHI provides tools and assistance that simplify the annual reporting requirements.

Advantages of submitting through MeHI's PQRS Registry are: 
  • An easy to use platform to select enter, analyze and submit quality measures;
  • Online and live education in CMS reporting; and
  • MeHI specialists to guide you through the process.
The deadline to submit via MeHI's registry is March 17th, which allows time for validation, correction and submission to CMS before the March 31st CMS deadline.

Interested in MeHI's Registry? Complete this form or call 1-855-MassEHR . 
Digital Health Cluster Event Recap
Approximately 80 healthcare and technology professionals gathered at Venture Cafe in Cambridge on February 11th to hear from a panel of digital health experts about being part of the Massachusetts Digital Health Cluster, how a digital health company can raise capital, and the ways to capture new customers.

Sanjay Gokhale, MeHI's Digital Health Cluster Development Director, kicked off the event with an overview of the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative.

To learn more about the Initiative, to find companies in the Digital Health Cluster, or to find similar upcoming events visit massdigitalhealth.org.
 
Did you miss the panel discussion on Feb. 11th? Click below to check out photos and video from the event:


WEBINARS
LTPAC Utilizing the Mass HIway

Date:
Thurs. Mar. 10th
Time:
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Register

Transitions of Care and the Mass HIway

Date:
Thurs. Mar. 24th
Time:
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Register   
CAREERS
Visit our website for job opportunities at MeHI.
CONTACT US
Massachusetts
eHealth Institute

1-855-MassEHR
ehealth@masstech.org 

eHealth Services Center
1-855-MassEHR

PROGRAM YEAR 2015 DEADLINES
Medicaid EHR Incentive Program    
Eligible Professionals & Dual Eligible Hospitals - Adopt, Implement, Upgrade (AIU)

Eligible Professionals (MU)

Children's and Medicaid-Only Hospitals (MU)
Open
Now



May 20, 2016

September 23, 2016


Close
August 14, 2016



August 14, 2016


October 21, 2016 
Medicare EHR Incentive Program
Eligible Professionals, Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals  

Now

March 11, 2016 New!
PQRS Submission
MeHI Registry

Now


March 17, 2016

EHR INCENTIVE PROGRAM UPDATES
New Group Proxy Option for Calculating Patient Volume Threshold
Effective January 26, 2016, organizations that elect to calculate their Medicaid Patient Volume Threshold using the Group Proxy Methodology can now combine encounters across multiple locations, as long as all providers were employed by, and the clinics were owned/operated by, the same healthcare organization. 

For more information about how to calculate Medicaid Patient Volume Threshold using Group Proxy Methodology, please see the 2015 Group Proxy Guide.
Alternate Meaningful Use Attestation Method Now Available through the CMS Registration and Attestation System
In order to avoid Medicare payment adjustments, all Eligible Professionals (EPs) must demonstrate Meaningful Use yearly. To meet Meaningful Use requirements, Medicare EPs are required to attest using the CMS Registration and Attestation (R&A) System, while Medicaid EPs are typically required to visit their state Medicaid agency's website. 

Beginning with Program Year 2015 attestations, Medicaid EPs who have previously received an incentive payment under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, but fail to meet eligibility criteria for the Medicaid program in subsequent years, will be allowed to attest using the CMS R&A system for the purpose of avoiding Medicare payment adjustments.

To learn more, please visit the CMS EHR Incentive Program page. To access the CMS 
Registration and Attestation System, visit the R&A login page . 
 
eHEALTH INDUSTRY NEWS
Telehealth Network Grant Program - Applications Due April 8th
The Health Resources and Services Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has announced a telehealth grant with an estimated $6M funding amount. The primary objective of the Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP) is to demonstrate how telehealth programs and networks can improve access to quality health care services in rural, frontier, and underserved communities.

TNGP networks are used to:
  • expand access to, coordinate, and improve quality of healthcare services;
  • improve and expand the training of healthcare providers; and/or
  • expand and improve the quality of health information available to healthcare providers, patients and their families for decision-making.

Application Deadline: April 8, 2016

 

Review Grant Eligibility Requirements and Application Details  

INDUSTRY EVENTS

HIMSS16 Health IT Conference | Spring 2016 | Las Vegas, NV

The 2016 HIMSS Annual Conference & Exhibition, which takes place February 29 - March 4, 2016 in Las Vegas, brings together 40,000+ health IT professionals, clinicians, executives, and vendors from around the world. Exceptional training sessions, world-class speakers, cutting-edge health IT products, and powerful networking are hallmarks of this industry-leading conference. The Conference features more than 300 education programs including keynotes, thought leader sessions, round-table discussions, and e-sessions, plus pre-conference symposia and workshops.

Companies and executives from the Massachusetts Digital Health Cluster will be taking part, including representatives from the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership and Massachusetts Technology Leadership Council (MassTLC). Download the flyer we created to highlight the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative for Mass. companies participating in HIMSS16.

The HIMSS16 Exhibit Floor will also feature:
  • 1,300+ leading health IT vendors
  • 3D Printing Row
  • Clinical & Business Intelligence Knowledge Center
  • Connected Health Experience
  • Cybersecurity Command Center
  • Disaster Preparedness Knowledge Center
  • Federal Health IT Solutions Pavilion
  • First-Time Exhibitors Area
  • HIMSS Interoperability Showcase®
  • HX360TM Innovation Pavilion
  • Intelligent Health Pavilion
  • Population Health Knowledge Center
  • Revenue Cycle Knowledge Center
  • University Row
HIMSS16 is the place to network and connect with thousands of industry leaders and other health IT professionals. Registration is now open.

Dates:
February 29 - March 4, 2016

Location:
Sands Expo and Convention Center
201 Sands Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89169

Event Details and Registration Information
   
 
Telehealth - Delivering Quality Care from Anywhere
Happening March 24th, this session will address the questions heard most frequently from caregivers who are considering adopting telehealth solutions: 
  • What are the latest developments in Telehealth Solutions?
  • How are caregivers using these technologies to improve health outcomes?
  • What are the challenges facing caregivers when using telehealth solutions?; and
  • What are best practices for overcoming these challenges?
Discussions will focus on how Telehealth Solutions are:
  • Expanding the reach of rural hospitals and specialists;
  • Improving health outcomes through earlier diagnosis;
  • Reducing healthcare costs by improving care management and eliminating the need for patient transfers; and
  • Addressing the shortages of healthcare providers in remote and underserved communities.
Speakers:
  • Dennis O'Connell, Director of Healthcare Solutions, Custom Computer Specialists
  • Kyriakos Kaimis, VP of Technology, Custom Computer Specialists
When:
Thursday, March 24, 2016
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (EST)

Where:
460 Totten Pond Rd, Ste 690
Waltham, MA 02451

MHDC Members - Free
Non-Members - $150