New EHR Incentive Program Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Posted Online

CMS wants to help you find the answers you need about the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. Take a minute and review the new FAQs about topics including eligibility, registration, meaningful use and attestation that have been posted to the FAQ section of the EHR Incentive Programs website.

A few of the new FAQs include:

What is the definition of "reasonable cost" for critical access hospitals (CAHs) under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?
The reasonable costs for which a CAH may receive an EHR incentive payment are the reasonable acquisition costs for the purchase of certified EHR technology to which purchase depreciation (excluding interest) would otherwise apply. Read the full answer.

How is hospital-based status determined for eligible professionals (EPs) in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs?
A hospital-based eligible professional (EP) is defined as an EP who furnishes 90% or more of their covered professional services in either the inpatient (Place of Service 21) or emergency department (Place of Service 23) of a hospital. Read the full answer.

For large practices, will there be a method to register all of the EPs at one time for the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs? Can EPs allow another person to register or attest for them?
At this time there is no method available for a third party to register multiple EPs for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. Read the full answer.

FAQ Highlights: Registration Questions
To help ensure that your registration process goes smoothly and for your easy reference, we have provided answers below to two of the most common registration questions from our FAQs found on the CMS website.

How will EPs and eligible hospitals apply for incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program?
Registration for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs began on January 3, 2011. However, the Medicaid Incentive Program is rolled out on a state-by-state basis. An updated schedule of state-planned Medicaid Incentive Program start dates can be found on the CMS website.

If a hospital is eligible to participate in both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, how should they register?
If a hospital meets all of the following qualifications, it is dually-eligible for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs:
It is a subsection(d) hospital in the 50 U.S. States or the District of Columbia, or you are a Critical Access Hospital (CAH), and
It has a CMS Certification Number ending in 0001-0879 or 1300-1399, and
It has 10% of patient volume derived from Medicaid encounters.

Any hospitals that meet these three qualifications, must register for "Both Medicare & Medicaid" when registering for the programs.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs? Keep up to date!  Click here to join the CMS EHR Incentive Programs listserv.  Make sure to visit the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

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.