Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, announced on November 30, 2011 that Eligible Providers and Eligible Hospitals (“Recipients”) meeting the Stage 1 meaningful use criteria for the Medicare/Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive (“EHR Incentives”) established under the HITECH Act will not be required to meet the Stage 2 criteria until 2014. The meaningful use final regulations that were published July 28, 2010 indicated that Recipients achieving meaningful use in 2011 would be required to meet the not yet published Stage 2 meaningful use criteria in 2013. This announced change is a welcome relief to many Recipients attaining meaningful use in 2011 giving them one additional year before being required to meet the yet to be announced Stage 2 meaningful use criteria.
Should you have any questions, please contact Jeff Short at 317.977.1413 or jshort@wp.hallrender.com.
