Meaningful Use
FlexMedical 6.0 – ONC Certified for Meaningful Use
FlexMedical, by OCERIS, Inc. Date Certified: 05/04/2011; Certification ID Number: IG-2395-11-0060; Clinical Quality Measures Certified: NQF0013, NQF0024, NQF0028, NQF0038, NQF0041, NQF0059, NQF0064, NQF0421, NQF00575; Additional software used: None
This Complete EHR is 2011/2012 compliant and has been certified by an ONC‐ATCB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. This certification does not represent an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or guarantee the receipt of incentive payments.
On July 13, 2010, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) released the final ruling for an incentive program aimed at encouraging practitioners to adopt EMR / EHR technology. The program includes 3 stages of implementation. The first of these, Stage 1, is focused on improving quality of care.
Our Commitment
FlexMedical is completely committed to meeting all emerging requirements and specifications set forth by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Our EMR / EHR meets most of the requirements already, and we are actively implementing the remaining pieces required to become a fully certified product. Our goal is to provide all the tools needed for our customers to prove meaningful use and reap the reward incentives.
Ryan McGinty
President & CEO
Other Resources
Below are links to external websites with more information.
Stage 1 Objectives
Stage 1 of Meaningful Use defines the first phase of EMR / EHR requirements. Effective January 1, 2010, these objectives define what requirements an “Eligible Professional” have to meet to qualify for incentives.
Stage 2 Objectives
Final ruling for Stage 2 has not been released. Details are expected before 2013.
Stage 3 Objectives
Final ruling for Stage 3 has not been released. Details are expected before 2015.
Incentives
Starting in 2011, eligible professionals can register to receive select incentives by demonstrating meaningful use of a certified EMR / EHR. The incentives available vary depending on the program selected and various timelines.
Medicare
Eligible Professionals
- Doctor of Medicine, Osteopathy, Podiatric Medicine, Optometry, Dental Surgery, or Dental Medicine
- Chiropractor
Important Dates
- January 2011 – registration launches
- April 2011 – attestation begins
- May 2011 – incentive payments begin
- February 28, 2012 – Last day for registration and attestation to receive incentive payment for 2011 calendar year
- 2016 – Last year incentive payments can be received
Notes
- Must demonstrate 90 days of meaningful use in first year
- Subsequent years require 365 days
Medicaid
Eligible Professionals
- Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physician Assistants working in a Federally Qualified Health Center or Rural Health Clinic that is led by a PA
- Certified Nurse-Midwives
- Dentists
- 30% or more Medicaid patient volume (excluding CHIP patients)
- A pediatrician with 20% or more Medicaid patient volume (excluding CHIP patients)
- An EP that practices predominately in a FQHC or RHC with a minimum of 30% of patients being needy individuals
Important Dates
- January 2011 – States have option to launch
- 2016 – Must begin participation in order to receive maximum incentive
- 2021 – Last year Medicaid will distribute incentives
Notes
- Eligible for incentive for initial year if:
- Upgrade, adopt, implement of EHR
- Or demonstrate meaningful use
- Subsequent years only allow demonstration of meaningful use
- Second year, must demonstrate 90 days of meaningful use
- Third year and after require 365 days of meaningful use
What is an Eligible Professional?
Providers will need to meet certain requirements in order to be eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid incentives. It’s important to know that incentive payments for eligible professionals are based on individual practitioners. If a profession is part of a practice, each eligible professional may qualify for an incentive payment if each eligible professional successfully demonstrates meaningful use using a certified EHR technology. Each eligible professional is only eligible for one incentive payment per year, regardless of how many practices or locations at which he or she provides services.
Hospital-based eligible professionals are not eligible for the incentive payments.
Medicare and Medicaid each have their own definitions of what they consider an eligible professional for their separate incentive programs. Eligible professionals that are eligible for both programs much choose which incentive program they wish to participate and register; however, the eligible professional may switch programs only one time after the first incentive payment is initiated.
How Does My Practice Register and Report?
Registration for the meaningful use incentives through Medicare and Medicaid began in January 2011. Eligible professionals will need to register online at CMS’s website. The CMS website will not only be used for registration, but for the attestation process as well. Eligible professionals may begin the attestation process starting in April 2011. Before a practice can proceed with the attestation process, CMS’s portion of their website dedicated to this process will prompt the user for a certification number. This certification number is what the practice will use to communicate to CMS which certified EHR vendor is being used in order to accomplish meaningful use objectives.
CMS Jump Page for MU Registration and Attestation
http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/20_RegistrationandAttestation.asp
CMS EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System
https://ehrincentives.cms.gov/hitech/login.action
Once at the site, click “continue” at the bottom of the screen. Login instructions are available here. To register, eligible professionals must have an National Provider Identifier Number (NPI) as well as a National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) web user account. The NPPES user ID and password is what is used to log in to the registration and attestation system.
Setting up NPI/NPPES web user accounts
If an eligible professional does not have an NPI/and or an NPPES web user account, one can apply for an NPI and create an NPPES web user account using the link below
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do
Registration User Guide for Medicare MU Incentive
http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/EHRMedicareEP_RegistrationUserGuide.pdf
Registration User Guide for Medicaid MU Incentive
http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/Downloads/EHRMedicaidEP_RegistrationUserGuide.pdf
Certifying Bodies
There are multiple certifying bodies that have been defined by the ONC. They include CCHIT, Drummand Group, and InfoGard. The ONC has identified these bodies as capable of “certifying” an EMR/EHR based on its ability to help a provider meet meaningful use.