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2017 MU attestations open through March 31, 2018 
The 2017 Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Attestation is open now to first year Meaningful Use participants, with the deadline of March 31, 2018, to submit all Meaningful Use attestations. ILHITREC's Clinical Informatics Specialists are trained to assist you with any questions or concerns related to the EHR Incentive Programs. Contact us at  info@ILHITREC.org or visit ILHITREC.org for complete details on the wide variety of services provided by ILHITREC.  
U pload eMIPP reporting documentation for 2017 attestations
Below is a reminder of the documentation that needs to be uploaded for 2017 attestations:  
1.  Documentation of Registration of Intent for Objective 10 Public Health Reporting. Please note registration is only required ONCE for this measure, however documentation to prove ongoing engagement is required to submit yearly with the attestation. 
Some examples include:
      a. Actual e-mail to Public Health to verify engagement.
      b. Documentation to show level of Engagement with Registry.
      c. Letter or e-mail from public health agency or registry confirming successful transmission  
          including date of submission.
      d. Proof of Specialized Registries.
2.   Report used to calculate patient volume.
3.   Objective and Clinical Quality Measure reports that include the following:
      a. Actual Meaningful Use Dashboard Report/Date Run from CEHRT System.
      b. Reporting Period.
      c. Provider Name/NPI.
      d. Actual Numerators and Denominators for MU and CQMs.  
For more information on eMIPP attestation requirements visit https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalProviders/eMIPP/Pages/Attestation.aspx or contact ILHITREC at info@ILHITREC.org.
IPPS Final Rule: Stage 2 allowed in 2018 - Stage 3 is optional
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the IPPS Final Rule on Aug. 2, 2017, which has implications for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs. CMS has established a CQM reporting period of any continuous 90-day period during CY 2017 for all Medicaid EPs, regardless of reporting electronically or manual submission. Illinois will allow both electronic and manual submission of CQMs.
 
Under the final policy, for an EHR reporting period in CY2018, health care providers will have the option to attest to the Modified Stage 2 objectives and measures using 2014 Edition CEHRT, 2015 Edition CEHRT, or a combination of 2014 and 2015 Edition CEHRT, as long as the EHR technology they possess can support the objectives and measures to which they plan to attest. Similarly, health care providers will have the option to attest to the Stage 3 objectives and measures using 2015 CEHRT or a combination of 2014 and 2015 Edition CEHRT, as long as their EHR technology can support the functionalities, objectives and measures for Stage 3 [page 38,491].  If providers move to Stage 3, they must be on the 2015 certified or hybrid version of their EHR software. See the summary of the 2018 IPPS Final Rule for more details.
S ubmit Patient Volume for Pre-Approval for 2017 Medicaid EHR Program
ILHITREC encourages Illinois providers participating in the eMIPP program to submit patient volume for pre-approval for the 2017 Medicaid EHR Incentive Program as soon as possible to avoid any delays in attestation.

Use the format below to provide the following information to Mecky Lang, via email at hfs.ehrincentive@illinois.gov:
  • TIN = _________________
  • Group or individual numbers?  _______________
  • Provider type:  (physician, hospital, dentist)  _________________
  • Date Range (90 days from either anytime during 2016 or between 4/1/17 - 11/30/17=  ___________
  • Straight Medicaid (only traditional Medicaid & All Kids) = _______________
  • Medicaid Managed Care = ________________
  • Total Encounters for all payees = ________________
Primary Contact:
Primary Phone:
Primary Email: 

Please note that ILHITREC's Clinical Informatics Specialists are trained to assist you
with any questions or concerns related to the EHR Incentive Programs. Contact us at info@ILHITREC.org or visit ILHITREC.org for complete details on the wide variety of services provided by ILHITREC.
MIPS Reporting Deadlines Fast Approaching: Important Dates
Deadlines are fast approaching if you plan to submit data for the 2017   Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance period. Don't wait until the last minute to submit your data.  Submit early and often. Here are key upcoming dates for MIPS:
  • March 16 at 8 pm ET - deadline for 2017 data submission for groups reporting via the CMS web interface.
  • March 31 - deadline for 2017 data submission for all other  MIPS reporting, including via  qpp.cms.gov
MIPS Data Reporting and Next Steps: Timeline for 2017 Performance Period

Questions about your participation status or MIPS data submission? Contact the Quality Payment Program Service Center by: Email: qpp@cms.hhs.gov; Phone: 1-866-288-8292 (TTY: 1-877-715-6222).

Webinar Replay: Avoiding 2017 Attestation  
Rejections - Common Issues and Challenges
If you missed ILHITREC's recent Webinar entitled "Avoiding 2017 Attestation Rejections - Common Issues and Challenges" (or if you want to pas the presentation on to someone else in your organization), we invite you to watch the replay. The PowerPoint slide presentation also is available in PDF format. This Webinar provides a review of the 2017 Medicaid Meaningful Use measures and process with a focus on avoiding attestation rejections. It reviews the common issues and challenges practices face and shares strategies for avoiding rejections for the 2017 EHR Medicaid Incentive Payment Program (eMIPP).  
EHR Incentive Program Runs Through 2021 
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) reminds Eligible Professionals (EPs) and Eligible Hospitals (EHs) that the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, which is administered voluntarily by states and territories, will continue through 2021. Read the full story here.

To participate in the program in 2017, EPs and EHs must attest to
:
ILHITREC's Clinical Informatics Specialists are trained to assist you with any questions or concerns related to the EHR Incentive Programs. Contact us at info@ILHITREC.org or visit ILHITREC.org for complete details on the wide variety of services provided by ILHITREC.
Medicare finalizes 2018 payment and quality reporting changes
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released two final rules impacting Medicare physician payment policies and quality reporting requirements. First, CMS finalized modifications to the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and alternative payment models (APMs) participation options and requirements for 2018. CMS estimates the vast majority of eligible clinicians and groups will participate in MIPS, making it the default track again in 2018. Read the full story here.
Important 2017 and 2018 Medicare and Medicaid Deadlines:  
Note - Medicare EH attestation deadline extended to 3/16/18
 
MARCH 2018   
 
 






ABOUT SUPPORT PROVIDED BY ILHITREC:
The Illinois Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center (ILHITREC), under contract with the Illinois Department of Health and Family Services (HFS), is providing education, outreach, EHR, and Meaningful Use support to Medicaid providers for the Electronic Health Record Medical Incentive Payment Program (eMIPP). Contact us at info@ILHITREC.org;  Phone : 815-753-5900; Fax: 815-753-7278.