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At the Forefront of Healthcare Transformation!
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IPPS Final Rule Issued: Changes Finalized for Eligible Professionals (EPs) Participating Under the Medicaid Incentive Payment Program (eMIPP)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the IPPS Final Rule on Aug. 2, which has implications for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs. CMS announced that it agrees with commenters about establishing a 90-day CQM reporting period during CY 2017 for all Medicaid EPs, regardless of submission method because it would reduce burden and streamline the program requirements. Therefore, CMS is establishing 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. Read the Full Story.
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Spotlight on Modified Stage 2 MU Measures
ILHITREC's Clinical Informatics Specialists have developed a guide to understanding Modified Stage 2 Meaningful Use Measures. Recent issues of ILHITREC's Weekly News Update have focused on individual measures. Thus far, 10 MU Measures have been spotlighted. They have been compiled into one resource and are accessible through ILHITREC's website. The website will be updated as new items are added.
The Measures include:
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Visit the EHR Incentive Programs Website
for Information About 2017 Program Requirements
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 [email protected] or visit ILHITREC.org for complete details on the wide variety of services provided by ILHITREC.
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New Medicare Card (formerly called SSNRI)
CMS is removing Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards to help fight identity theft and safeguard taxpayer dollars. In previous messages, CMS said that you must be ready by April 2018 for the change from the Social Security Number based Health Insurance Claim Number to the randomly generated Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (the new Medicare number). Up to now, CMS referred to this work as the Social Security Number Removal Initiative (SSNRI). Moving forward, CMS will refer to this project as the New Medicare Card. To help you find information quickly, CMS designed a new homepage linking you to the latest details, including how to talk to your Medicare patients about the new Medicare Card. Bookmark the New Medicare Card homepage and Provider web page, and visit often, so you have the information you need to be ready by April 1.
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Do we still need to participate in the Medicaid Incentive Payment Program (eMIPP) if we are required to participate in MIPS this year?
Yes!
Some of the many reasons to continue in the Medicaid incentive program include:
- Funding! Participating providers can still earn $8,500 per provider per year through 2021 in achieving progressive levels of meaningful use.
- Alignment! The EHR program requirements currently align with other payers' requirements and incentive programs.
- Data! Tracking your data can help you realize areas you can improve on. Identify health trends for patients individually and as a group. To be able to measure patient outcomes and have this available to use as feedback for the patients, providers and staff.
- Support! ILHITREC can provide support for your participation in this program at no cost
- Preparation! Continue to utilize benefits of the EHR you already have implemented and are paying for because this will prepare you for the transition to value-based payment models. Even if you are not required to participate in MIPS in 2017, its only a matter of time before all providers will be included in these programs.
- Rising Expectations! Patients now expect certain services associated with having an EHR, such as access to their online health records, lab results right away, electronic messaging, electronic medical record sharing with their other providers.
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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 and support to Medicaid providers for the Electronic Health Record Medical Incentive Payment Program (eMIPP). Northern Illinois University serves as the Illinois Health Information Technology Regional Extension Center providing EHR and meaningful use services to providers in Illinois. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
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