Avoid meaningful use penalties: Exemption deadline now July 1
Physicians now have until July 1—an additional three months—to apply for a hardship exemption from the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use financial penalties for the 2015 program year. Those who don’t apply could face up to a 3 percent cut in their Medicare payments in 2017 since the meaningful use program operates on a two-year look-back period.
Be sure to apply, whatever your circumstances
In a brief statement issued Friday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) said it “is extending the deadline so providers have sufficient time to submit their applications to avoid adjustments to their Medicare payments in 2017.”
CMS also has stated that it will broadly grant hardship exemptions as a result of the delayed publication of the Stage 2 meaningful use modifications rule, which left physicians with insufficient time to report under the modified program requirements issued in late 2015.
All physicians should apply for the exemption—there isn’t a downside to doing so. Even physicians who believe they met the requirements of the meaningful use program in 2015 can apply. CMS has said that submitting an application for a hardship exemption will not prevent those who qualify from receiving an incentive payment.
How to apply
Physicians should be sure to submit their applications before midnight Eastern time July 1. To get started, download an application from CMS and consultstep-by-step instructions (log in) the AMA compiled to help simplify the submission process. Physicians do not need to include documentation of their circumstances with their application, but should hold onto it for their own records.
New this year, individuals can apply on behalf of a group of physicians.
CMS has indicated that physicians may soon begin to hear if their exemption application has been approved.