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Hello,
I am wondering if anyone else has found more substantiating evidence that this statement is true:
"The provider can also apply for the hardship exception (if they qualify) and then still go on and meet MU later in the year and still get the incentive payment”
I found this statement on this site below, but that is all I have been able to find so far regarding this topic:
http://www.healthit.gov/buzz-blog/health-innovation/6-meaningful-ehr-certification-2014/
I also asked for the supporting documentation and did not receive a response. It's an older thread so no surprise there...
So, to clarify, I am trying to decide if I should apply for hardships for providers that are still technically eligible providers just to cover from potential reductions down the road. If I do this, I need to be able to validate that I can still attest for them for 2015.
I recognize this is not an EMR related question, but as the FAQ site appears to be down, I have exhausted my search efforts. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. thanks, Paula
Posted : June 1, 2015 10:56 am
I have not seen any documentation that states thatwhat you are saying is true, but I claimed an exclusion for one of my physicians last year for his first year of Stage 1 and then atested for him and was paid the incentive bonus. I do not know if that would hold true for someone who had attested in a previous year and then was claiming a hardship this year or not.
I couldn't tell by your question if this was a new physician or not.
Terry
Posted : June 1, 2015 11:25 am
I don't have specific CMS documentation, but below is information from MGMA, March 2014 ( http://www.mgma.com/Libraries/Assets/Government%20Affairs/Issues/Federal%20Quality%20Reporting%20Programs/Meaningful-Use-QA_Mar-2014-edits_FINAL_2.pdf?ext=.pdf)
New! If an EP is granted a hardship exception, how does this affect his or her incentive payment in 2014?
In correspondence directly to MGMA, CMS officials informed the Association that "[w]hen an eligible professional is granted a hardship exception from meeting meaningful use in 2014, they do not receive an incentive payment for 2014. Should they achieve meaningful use in subsequent years, they could receive the applicable incentive payment for each of those program years."
However, if after you have been granted a hardship exception, and your circumstances change, CMS officials also informed MGMA that EPs are able to attest to meaningful use and earn the incentive payment.
MGMA TIP: As a new participant in 2014, even if you have heard from your EHR vendor that it anticipates being certified and able to support your EPs for the July 1 through Sep. 30 quarter, it is recommended that you apply for software-related hardship exceptions on behalf of your EPs prior to July 1. Applying for the hardship exception would mean avoiding the 2015 penalty in the event that the vendor is not ready. Should your vendor be certified and fully support your EPs as they seek to participate in the meaningful use program, the EPs will not be bound by their hardship exception application. (Note: If you are a returning meaningful user in 2014 and you experience software-related issues, you will use the hardship exception form for 2016, which will be available after July 1, 2014.)
Posted : June 2, 2015 5:40 am
