The last day that eligible hospitals and CAHs can begin their 90-day reporting period in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program is July 3, 2011. For hospitals, this means that they must begin their consecutive 90-day reporting period by July 3rd if they still want to successfully demonstrate meaningful use and receive an incentive payment for FY 2011.

Resources to Help
CMS has developed some tools to help providers attest. Eligible hospitals and CAHs who have completed their reporting period can use the CMS Eligible Hospital and CAH Attestation Worksheet to log their meaningful use measures to use as a reference when attesting for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in the CMS system.

Additionally, the Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator allows eligible hospitals and CAHs to test whether or not they will successfully demonstrate meaningful use for the EHR Incentive Programs and the Attestation User Guide for Eligible Hospitals will walk eligible hospitals and CAHs through the attestation system, helping them to successfully attest to meeting meaningful use.

Looking Ahead
September 30, 2011 is the last day of the federal fiscal year, marking the end of the reporting year for eligible hospitals and CAHs. See what other important dates are coming in 2011 by reviewing CMS’ Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Milestone Timeline.

If you have further questions regarding participating in the EHR Incentive Program, your eligibility or calculating your incentive payment, please contact CRHC’s HIT Program Coordinator for Hospitals.