Information for Eligible Professionals about Registration for the Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs

Designation of a third-party to register – At this time, there is no method available for a third-party to register multiple eligible professionals (EPs) for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. Beginning in May, CMS plans to implement functionality that will allow an EP to designate a third-party to register and attest on his or her behalf. We will release detailed information about that process when it is available.

Please be aware that, currently, EPs are NOT permitted to allow a practice manager or any other person to register in their place. Sharing your National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) user ID and password with third-parties can place your information at risk. Until CMS implements new functionality in May, each EP should register himself or herself separately for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

Registration for the Medicaid program – Eligible professionals must select between the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. If you register for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, when you select “Medicaid” on the registration screen, you will be asked to select a state from the drop-down menu. Only states with launched programs (ie. states that are prepared to confirm your eligibility and make payments) are listed in that drop-down menu. Each month, CMS will add new states as they launch programs. If you have questions about when your state will launch, visit Medicaid State Information. You may also contact your State Medicaid Agency for more information about the program; visit State EHR Incentive Program Launch Dates and HIT Websites for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program links for each State Medicaid Agency.

For more information about the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs and to register, visit http://www.CMS.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms.


Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.

To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.