Tennessee HIT Regional Extension Center (tnREC)

Meaningful Use Audits

qsadmin — Tue, 21 May 2013 22:54:46 +0000

You could receive a letter like this very soon:

“This letter is to inform you that your organization has been selected by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for an audit of your facility’s meaningful use of certified EHR technology for the attestation period. Attached to this letter is an information request list. Be aware that this list may not be all-inclusive and that we may request additional information necessary to complete the audit.”

Head spinning? Heart racing? Palms sweaty? Take a deep breath and contact tnREC.

As the regional extension center, we can assist you in preparing for your audit by identifying key areas for documentation. But you have to act quickly as, typically, you will only have two weeks to supply the requested information via mail or electronic upload.

In a “Driving HIT in Tennessee: Audits” podcast, tnREC HIT Specialist Tabothy Edgin talks about types of audits, the audit process and the documentation required. You can find the podcast located to the right of this blog. Just click it to listen.

We recommend that you read the FAQs with details recently added by CMS for specifics that could be required during a meaningful-use audit.

CMS has contracted with Figliozzi & Company to conduct audits of Medicare and dually-eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) providers. Individual states and their contractors will perform audits on more than 69,395 Medicaid providers who, as of November 2012, have received a total of $1.4 billion in incentives.

What can you do to prepare? Contact tnREC for our expertise with meaningful-use achievement, documentation and attestation. Don’t miss deadlines. Finally, don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you don’t understand what an auditor is requesting.

qsadmin — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 17:14:03 +0000

HIPAA Changes for 2013

The number one concern that patients have regarding electronic health records (EHRs) is the privacy and security of their personal health information. And their concern is justified.

In 2011 alone, data breaches cost healthcare providers more than $12 billion dollars with the average number of stolen or lost records being 1,769 per breach. Sixty-percent of all hospitals suffered at least two breaches. The top causes of data breaches — employee action, lost or stolen computing devices and third-party error.

New HIPAA requirements enacted Jan. 17, 2013 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) modify the original HIPAA Privacy Rules and sets definite deadlines for becoming compliant. Changes took effect March 26 and you have until Sept. 23, 2013 to become compliant.

How do you do that?

First, view tnREC’s “HIPAA Changes 2013” video presentation. It looks at the 562-page HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule and offers guidance on how to become compliant. Click on the video link to view the presentation.

In the video you’ll learn about new rules for Business Associates and their Subcontractors making them directly liable for HIPAA Privacy and Security Requirements and how the rules expand a patient’s right to receive electronic copies of their health information.

Next, review the “Compliance To-Do Checklist”. And finally, contact your tnREC HIT Specialist if you have questions, concerns or need a little help along the way.

Remember, you have until Sept. 23 and the clock is ticking!

Published: April 23, 2013 | PowerPoint Version

New on HealthIT.gov

qsadmin — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 17:09:24 +0000

New This Week on HealthIT.gov

Governance
ONC is using a newly announced program to foster collaboration with groups already involved in governance of health information exchange to encourage the continued development and adoption of policies, interoperability requirements and business practices. Late last month the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released the Exemplar Health Information Exchange Governance Entities Program Funding Opportunity. The Program will help:

increase the ease of electronic health information exchange,
reduce implementation costs, and
assure the privacy and security of data being exchanged.

This work will support and advance the efforts of existing governing groups which will benefit consumers and providers by allowing health information to securely flow between unaffiliated healthcare organizations. The program is one of the multiple activities for governance of nationwide health information exchange that ONC is engaged in.

If you are interested or have questions, please call in to a teleconference ONC will host Jan. 7 at 2:00 pm EST. To join the teleconference, please call 800-369-1896 participant code 3024154. Materials for the call will be posted at http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/exemplar-hie-governance-entities-program.

For additional information about the Exemplar Health Information Exchange Governance Entities Program and to access the funding opportunity announcement please see: http://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/exemplar-hie-governance-entities-program.

Science and Standards
The word of the week was … Standards! So says ONC’s chief scientist Doug Fridsma who wrote the first of many blogs explaining what ONC’s Office of Science and Technology is working on.

Fridsma said: “Over the coming weeks, I’ll update readers on what we are doing in ONC’s Office of Science and Technology.” This will include conversations about:

What it means to develop an interoperable health care system;
What the community is doing to advance the technical framework of meaningful use;
The work being done to create not only a learning health care system, but a “health care system of learners;” and
Exciting innovation work that is pushing the boundaries of how health care providers and patients interact.

Read the entire blog at: http://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/

Meaningful Use Case Studies
We recently published a slew of Meaningful Use Case Studies, detailing the experiences of providers across the country as they their journey toward achieving Meaningful Use. Each case study focuses on a subset of the Stage 1 Meaningful Use requirements and includes key challenges and lessons learned in:

For more data and information, visit the EHR implementation lifecycle steps and check out the National Learning Consortium (NLC).

Journeys to Meaningful Use Podcast Series

qsadmin — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 17:29:35 +0000

HIMSS Medical Practice Journeys to Meaningful Use Podcast Series
November 20, 2012

An ambulatory medical practice implementation of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) is different than hospitals. This podcast series specifically targets ambulatory audiences and focuses on the best practices and lessons learned during their journeys.

Episode #3: REC Spotlight: Tennessee REC Uses DIRECT Project to Achieve Meaningful Use Requirement for Exchange of Health Information

Dawn FitzGerald, CEO of QSource, explains how practices and eligible providers (EPs) can use DIRECT to meet the Meaningful Use Stages 1 and 2 requirements regarding demonstration of the capability of electronic health information exchange.

Download this Podcast

Download

2014 Draft Test Methods

qsadmin — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 20:28:36 +0000

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is pleased to announce the release of the fifth set of 2014 Edition draft Test Methods (test procedures, tools, and applicable test data and files).

All Test Methods will undergo public review and comment before being finalized and approved by ONC for use in testing and certification. The final set of Test Methods is expected to be available for use in early 2013.

Comments and suggestions should be submitted to ONC.Certification@hhs.gov. All submissions should include “2014 Test Methods” in the subject line. Please be as specific as possible in your comment submission.

For additional information, and to access the 2014 Edition draft Test Methods, please visit the 2014 Edition Draft Test Procedures webpage.

Reporting Electronically in 2014

qsadmin — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 17:38:40 +0000

Reporting Electronically in 2014

Beginning in 2014, all Medicare EPs and eligible hospitals beyond their first year of demonstrating meaningful use must electronically report their CQM data to CMS. Medicaid EPs and eligible hospitals that are eligible only for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program will report their CQM data to their state.

e-Specifications
The value sets of the electronic specifications code the CQMs in your EHR, allowing you to export the measure results and report them in attestation. EPs and eligible hospitals can view the value sets on the National Library of Medicine Value Set Authority Center (VSAC) webpage.

Resources for 2014 CQMs
To help providers navigate the new CQMs, CMS has developed and posted new resources, including:

Implementation Guide to the 2014 CQMs
Release Notes for EPs and Eligible Hospitals
CQM tipsheet.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Make sure to visit the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

EP EHR Reporting Period

qsadmin — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:31:54 +0000

EP EHR Reporting Period

Payment adjustments are based on prior years’ reporting periods. The length of the reporting period depends upon the first year of participation.

For an EP who has demonstrated meaningful use in 2011 or 2012:

To Avoid Payment Adjustments:
EPs must continue to demonstrate meaningful use every year to avoid payment adjustments in subsequent years.

For an EP who demonstrates meaningful use in 2013 for the first time:

To Avoid Payment Adjustments:
EPs must continue to demonstrate meaningful use every year to avoid payment adjustments in subsequent years.

EP who demonstrates meaningful use in 2014 for the first time:

In order to avoid the 2015 payment adjustment the EP must attest no later than October 1, 2014, which means they must begin their 90 day EHR reporting period no later than July 1, 2014.

For More Information please view the National eHealth Collaborative presentation
How to Play by the (Final) Rules: An Overview of Meaningful Use Stage 2 and the Standards and Certification Criteria Final Rules

Stage 2 Final Rule Released on CMS Website

qsadmin — Fri, 24 Aug 2012 18:58:38 +0000

CMS announces new Stage 2 meaningful use rule for EHRs.

REC Partnership Proves Beneficial

qsadmin — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:59:51 +0000

Partnering with Regional Extension Centers Increases Provider Likelihood of Receiving EHR Incentive Payments

Over the past two years, Regional Extension Centers (RECs) have been working with health care providers to help them overcome the challenges of adopting and implementing electronic health records (EHRs). This week, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that health care providers who partnered with an REC were more than twice as likely to receive an incentive payment under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

The GAO’s report, Electronic Health Records: Number and Characteristics of Providers Awarded Medicare Incentive Payments for 2011, mined 2011 data from a variety of government sources. It offered insights into those providers and hospitals that are making current progress, but could also provide an early indication of those who may be vulnerable to payment reductions in later years of the program.

“The GAO’s findings reinforce what we already know – in working with RECs clinicians of all sorts can decrease the barriers to adopting and implementing EHRs,” said tnREC Director, Jennifer McAnally. “We provide unbiased support in translating complex health information technology issues into practical solutions that fit a provider’s unique circumstances.”

During the first year, 2,802 hospitals and 141,649 professionals registered for the Medicare incentive program, a required step to receive incentive payments. In 2011, 761 hospitals and 56,585 health care professionals nationwide were awarded Medicare EHR incentive payments for their efforts to use electronic health records to meaningfully improve patient health.

Professionals who are eligible for the incentives include Doctors of Medicine, Dental Medicine or Surgery, Optometry, Osteopathy and Podiatric Medicine, and Chiropractors. The GAO analysis of Medicare EHR payments to those providers found that:

The largest proportion (32 percent) of providers was located in the Southern states while the lowest percentage (17 percent) was located in the Western states.
A significant majority (89 percent) of providers were in urban areas.
Half (50 percent) were specialty practice physicians and over one-third (38 percent) were general practice physicians.
Nearly three-quarters (71 percent) did not previously participate in CMS’s incentive program for electronic prescribing.

The GAO also analyzed program participation among hospitals, including acute care and critical access hospitals with a variety of ownership type, size and location. Results indicated that:

Critical access hospitals were less than half as likely to earn incentives as acute care hospitals.
Hospitals in the top third of size (measured by number of beds) were 2.4 times more likely than hospitals in the bottom third to earn an incentive payment.
Nonprofit and for-profit hospitals were 1.1 and 1.5 times more likely than government-owned hospitals, respectively, to receive an incentive payment.
Only one in ten (12.2 percent) of eligible rural hospitals were awarded Medicare EHR incentive payments.

Read the full GAO report.

New Information May Affect CAHs

qsadmin — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 15:12:58 +0000

CMS Has Added an Important New FAQ for CAHs on Costs for Certified EHR Technology

We want to help keep you updated with information on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. CMS has recently revised an FAQ with new guidance that discusses whether critical access hospitals (CAHs) in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program can include costs for capital leases of certified EHR technology. Take a minute and review the new FAQ below.

Question: Can a Critical Access Hospital (CAH) include costs to lease/rent certified EHR technology in the Medicare EHR incentive payment?

Answer: Under the statute and the regulations, the CAHs EHR incentive payment shall only include reasonable costs for the purchase of certified EHR technology to which purchase depreciation (excluding interest) would apply. There are two types of lease agreements that a CAH may enter into to administer their EHR system… an operating lease or a capital lease.

For the rest of this FAQ, visit the CMS FAQ system and search for it by FAQ number. Type in 3387 in the “FAQ # Search” box found at the top, left side of the FAQ page. Choose the “FAQ #” option by clicking the circle and highlighting it in blue.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?
Make sure to visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.