Register Now for the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs National Provider Call: Registration and Attestation for Eligible Professionals

Hear the Experts Discuss the EHR Incentive Programs
Date: Friday, September 9
Time: 11:30-1:00 p.m. MDT

Agenda: During the call, CMS experts will discuss the following topics:
• Path to Payment
• Highlights of Registration and Attestation Processes
• Third Party Proxy
• Troubleshooting
• Helpful Resources
There will also be a Q&A session where experts will address your questions and concerns.

Registration: Register now for this informative session. Registration will close at 1:30 p.m. on September 8, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please register early.

Presentation Materials: The presentation will be available prior to the call on the presentations section of the CMS EHR website.

Helpful Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Tips for Eligible Professionals

The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program was designed to be administered through each individual state and Colorado will be participating with payments expected in the late Spring / early Summer 2012 for Eligible Providers (EP).

In the meantime, here are a few tips for preparing to participate:

Eligibility:

An EP with at least 30% of services furnished to Medicaid patients (20% for pediatricians for a decreased incentive) is eligible

An EP that works in an RHC may have that 30% consist of needy individuals - patients on CHP+, uncompensated care from provider or services furnished at no cost or on a sliding fee scale

For more information on Meaningful Use and the eligibility requirements for Medicaid, click here.

Registration Requirements:

Currently, EPs in Colorado who plan on participating in the Medicaid Incentive Program cannot register because the plan has not yet been approved - CRHC will keep posting updates as they are announced

PECOS enrollment is NOT necessary for EPs that are participating in the Medicaid Incentive Program, but an individual NPI and an NPPES web user account is required. If you do not have an NPPES web user account, click here to start the process

If an EP plans on attesting to the Medicare Incentive Program in 2011 and switching to the Medicaid Incentive Program in 2012 (a one-time switch is allowed), the EP should register for the Medicare Incentive Program. For more information on registering for the Medicare Incentive Program, click here.

Eligible Hospital note: a PECOS number is required for all hospitals

Standards Panel Reaches EHR Milestone

The Health IT Standards Committee has endorsed a single set of vocabulary standards for each area of quality reporting measures, an accomplishment that has been 10 years in the making. The domains include medications, labs and allergies.

The committee will recommend to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT to incorporate the vocabulary standards and implementation guides in certification criteria for electronic health records (EHRs) for stage 2 of meaningful use.

To read the entire article, click here.

Privacy and Security - What Questions You Should Ask Your Vendor

Friday! HRSA HIT& Quality Webinar ""Privacy and Security - What Questions You Should Ask Your Vendor", Fri. Aug.19, 12pm - 1:30pm MDT

When implementing a Health IT system, it is vital for healthcare providers to know which questions to ask vendors. Health IT security and privacy issues are complex and critical for providers, and one system breach or unauthorized access to patient data can adversely affect a healthcare provider’s practice, violate a patient’s trust in the provider, and leave the provider liable to investigations by State and Federal regulators.

Today’s presenters have first-hand experience working with safety net providers on health IT privacy and security issues. They will share how they integrated this important process and how other healthcare providers can protect themselves and their patients from unauthorized data breaches. Presenters are:

· Laura Rosas, Esq, Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT

· Richard Sanders, Esq, General Counsel, Georgia Primary Care Association

· Holly Schlenvogt, MSH, CPM, Health Information Technology Specialist, Wisconsin Health Information Technology Extension Center

Registration link: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=54500978

Please email questions or comments to HRSA’s Health IT mailbox at: healthit@hrsa.gov

Register for the CMS National Provider call on Understanding Meaningful Use

Registration is now open for the CMS National Provider Call titled, “Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs: Understanding Meaningful Use.” The call will be held Thursday, August 18, from 11:30-1:00 p.m. MDT.

This call will help you learn more about meaningful use so that you can get on the path to receiving an EHR incentive payment. The call will cover the following topics:

• Defining meaningful use
• The requirements for Stage 1 of meaningful use (2011 and 2012)
• Attestation for meaningful use
• Goals of the Meaningful Use Objectives Specification Sheets
o Stage 1 EHR Meaningful Use Specification Sheets for Eligible Professionals
o Stage 1 EHR Meaningful Use Specification Sheets for Eligible Hospitals
• A question & answer session

You can register online for the call. In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. Registration will close at 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, August 17, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please register early.

Billing & Coding Workshop(s) & Webinar

September 13th, 14th ,15th, & Live Webinar on the 20th, 2011

On October 1, 2013 ICD-10 will bring monumental changes to physicians and the healthcare industry. This seminar will help you understand the changes that are coming and how to get prepared NOW!!!!

• HIPAA 5010 Transactions Version Update: What is it and why does it have to be implemented by January 1, 2012
• Key implementation dates
• Why ICD-10? Why now? Who is affected by the changes?
• Key ICD-10 details, characteristics and guidelines
• Steps to correct coding, code cross-walks and examples!
• Steps to get prepared NOW– don't let your cash flow tank!

Please click on the registration links below for more information and to register or you may contact Courtnay Ryan at cr@coruralhealth.org.


September 13th, 2011
Sterling Regional Medical Center, Sterling CO
To register for this workshop please click here

September 14th, 2011
Prowers Medical Center, Lamar, CO
To register for this workshop click here

September 15th, 2011
Springhill Suites - Marriott, Grand Junction, CO
To register for this workshop click here

UPDATE: The Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS) and Meaningful Use Attestation

The Colorado Immunization Registry, CIIS, is going through a redevelopment and will be launching their new registry in July 2011.

After the registry goes live, hospitals and clinics will be able to test the HL7 message feeds to them.

There may be a bit of a wait for clinics and hospitals to get connected to CIIS, but they are working with CORHIO on how we can align those locations that are truly ready for connection, i.e. they are current with all their upgrades from the EHR vendor, they have negotiated or at least understand what if any costs their vendor will charge them for a HL7 interface to the registry, they have created test files.

For more information, please visit the CIIS website.

Download the latest version of CIIS's Health Level (HL7) here