As 2012 begins, CMS wants to remind eligible professionals (EPs) participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program of important deadlines approaching and what can still be completed in 2012 in order to receive an incentive payment for calendar year (CY) 2011.

Important Medicare EHR Incentive Program Dates
On December 31, 2011, the reporting year ended for EPs who participated in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in 2011. What does this mean? For participating EPs, they must have completed their 90-day reporting period by the end of 2011.

However, EPs have until February 29, 2012, to actually register and attest to meeting meaningful use to receive an incentive payment for CY 2011 through the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System.

Payment Threshold Information
February 29, 2012, is also the deadline for EPs to submit any pending Medicare Part B claims from CY 2011, as CMS allows 60 days after December 31, 2011, for all pending claims to be processed. This means that EPs have 60 days in 2012 to submit claims for allowed charges incurred in 2011.

Medicare EHR incentive payments to EPs are based on 75% of the Part B allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the entire payment year.

If the EP did not meet the $24,000 threshold in Part B allowed charges by the end of calendar year 2011, CMS expects to issue an incentive payment for the EP in April 2012 for 75% of the EP’s Part B charges from 2011.

Note for Medicaid Participants: Medicaid incentives will be paid by the States, but the timing will vary according to State. Please contact your State Medicaid Agency for more details about payment.