I work for a behavioral health organization that also includes primary care. To date, the organization has not made any effort to attest to meaningful use, and we have received a notice from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with attestation deadline dates in February 2017. Will we experience payment adjustments in the upcoming fiscal year? How can I confirm our status?
Answer: Based on your description, your hospital is a psychiatric hospital, which is not subject to meaningful use. CMS’s website covers the hospitals that are subject to meaningful use or, as CMS describes, are “eligible hospitals.”
For your professionals, you may want to take a look at the recent change to “eligible professionals” as a result of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). I’m not familiar with your professional composition and am unable to determine if they are subject to meaningful use. There is also a Medicaid program that may apply in your state.
This question was answered by: David A. Williams, FHFMA, CPA, partner, Horne LLP, and a member of HFMA’s Mississippi Chapter.
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