In order to receive an initial New Jersey Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program payment, the eligible professional DOES NOT have to currently be a meaningful user of certified EHR technology. Instead, the EP must only provide proof of adopting, implementing, or upgrading (AIU) this technology. Definitions of these terms can be found here. To continue receiving payments for years 2-6, the eligible professional must meet “meaningful use” criteria established by CMS.
In general, there are three requirements for "meaningful use":
- The use of certified EHR technology in a meaningful way
- The EHR is connected in a manner that provides for the HIPAA compliant electronic exchange of health information to improve the quality of care.
- The collection of clinical quality data.
On October 6, 2015, CMS released a final rule that modified and specified the criteria that eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Programs. The final rule’s provisions encompass 2015 through 2017 (Modified Stage 2) as well as Stage 3 in 2018 and beyond. Please select this link to view the 2016 meaningful use specification sheet for eligible professionals.
All meaningful use measures are based on encounters that occurred at locations where certified EHR technology is implemented. At least 50% of a provider’s total patient encounters must occur at locations where there is certified EHR technology in order to be eligible for a Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program payment based on meaningful use criteria. Additionally, at least 80% of the attesting provider’s patients in the EHR Reporting Period must be included in the provider's or group practice's EHR system in order to be eligible for New Jersey Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program payments.
The last year eligible providers may begin participation in the Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program is on CY2016, the attestation application will accept CY2016 attestations up to March 31, 2017.
