Access tnREC’s latest news and announcements, recent media coverage and media contact information here.
Members of the media interested in obtaining expert information in the fields of healthcare IT, patient safety, clinical care and quality improvement may contact us to arrange interviews and speaking engagements for the tnREC team of experts.
- Reporting Electronically in 2014
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
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 - Tennessee Providers Receive EHR Incentives
2,789 Providers In Tennessee Receive $136,480,969 Under EHR Incentive Programs
More than 100,000 health care providers have been paid under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced today. Of those, 2,789 eligible providers in Tennessee have received $136,480,969 in payments.
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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
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).
- 2014 Draft Test Methods
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.
