CMS Releases Meaningful Use Stage 2 Final Rule - Aug. 28, 2012

The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) released the final rule for stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Program on Aug. 23. In the final rule, CMS delays stage 2 meaningful use requirements by 1 year for those hospitals who first attest to stage 1 meaningful use requirements in federal fiscal year (FFY) 2011. CMS is also allowing hospitals attesting to either stage 1 or 2 in FFY 2014 to meet a 3-month reporting period instead of the full 12 months of reporting. In addition, CMS reduces the number of clinical quality measures that hospitals will need to report on starting in FFY 2014 from 26 to 16. NAPH members will receive a Special Update in the coming days outlining additional details from the final rule.