CMS Announces Proposed Changes for MU 2017 and 2018

April 19, 2017

Written by Patty Kosednar

On April 14, 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced proposed changes for the electronic health record (EHR) incentive programs for both 2017 and 2018 reporting years. This announcement includes changes to some other programs as well, so check out the full details on the CMS fact sheet.

Here is a summary of the proposed changes for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

Medicare and Medicaid Eligible Hospital Proposed Changes:

• 2017 reporting year:
• Report six clinical quality measures (CQMs) instead of 16. This aligns with proposed changes for inpatient quality reporting (IQR).
• For CQMs, submit two quarters of data (you choose the quarters) instead of 90 days.
• 2018 reporting year:
• For objective (core) measures (not CQMs), submit 90 days of data, instead of a full year.
• Report six CQMs. This aligns with proposed changes for IQR.
• For CQMs, submit first three quarters of data, instead of a full year. This aligns with proposed changes for IQR.

Medicaid Eligible Professional Proposed Changes:

• 2017 reporting year:
• If reporting clinical quality measures (CQMs) electronically, submit 90 days of data, not a full year (electronic submission only).
• CQMs that are available will align with the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS).
• 2018 reporting year:
• For objective (core) measures and CQMs, submit 90 days of data, instead of a full year.
• CQMs that are available will align with MIPS.

Medicare Eligible Professional Proposed Changes:

• 2017 and 2018 reporting years:
• Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC)-based providers are no longer eligible for Medicare penalties in 2017 and 2018 (meaningful use reporting years 2015 and 2016).

Medicare Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR) Proposed Changes:

• 2017 reporting year:
• Report six electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) instead of eight.
• Submit data for two quarters (you choose quarters) instead of a full year.
• Align certified EHR requirements with EHR incentive programs.
• 2018 reporting year:
• Report six eCQMs instead of eight.
• Submit data for the first three quarters, instead of a full year.
• Align certified EHR requirements with EHR incentive programs.

There were proposed changes to other CMS programs (e.g., inpatient prospective payment system [IPPS] and long-term care hospital [LTCH] payments, Hospital Readmissions and Acquired Conditions Reduction Programs, Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program, etc.) along with more details on the items listed above, so please be sure to read the full details on the CMS fact sheet.

We will cover all EHR Incentive Program requirements for this year and next on our webinar scheduled for April 19. Register for the webinar here.

If you have any questions, or run into issues with any of the meaningful use objectives and would like help please use the “Leave a Reply” section below, or email Patty Kosednar directly with your questions or comments.

Other Resource Links
CMS FAQ on MU payment penalties
CMS 2017 MU Requirements
See all 2017 MU Blog Posts
Read all previous MU posts
See our MIPS Blog

 

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