National Updates

New CMS Listserv for EHR Incentive Program

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has a new listserv about the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. The listserv will provide timely, authoritative information about the programs, including registration and attestation updates, and details about the payment process. Click here to join the listserv and learn more. 

CMS to Modify Meaningful Use Group Practice Registration Process

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will implement protocols in May that allow eligible professionals (EPs) to designate a third-party (such as a practice administrator) to register and attest for them as part of the EHR meaningful use incentive program. EPs are not currently allowed to designate a practice manager or any other person to register in their place. However, until CMS implements this new group practice “functionality,” each EP should register himself or herself separately for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. 

Blumenthal to Leave ONC in Spring

Dr. David Blumenthal just announced his resignation from the position of National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. In this position, Blumenthal led the implementation of a nationwide interoperable, privacy-protected health information technology infrastructure as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Along with this, he led the effort to influence doctors and hospitals to adopt electronic medical record systems. Dr. Blumenthal will leave this spring and return to his tenured position at Harvard Medical School.