If you received notice from CMS that you would receive a 1.5% payment adjustment because you did not properly report eRx G8553 codes in 2012, it is not too late to get a hardship exemption.
If you register for the EHR Meaningful Use prior to January 31, 2012, and include the entire EHR Certification Number in the CMS EHR Certification ID field during registration, you will not receive this penalty.
So, if you have selected your EHR package, and are working to install it, but cannot attest to 90 days of meaningful use for 2013, go ahead and add the Certification ID to your registration and avoid this penalty.
From the CMS website:
Two New Hardship Exemptions (11-02-2012)
On November 1, 2012 CMS finalized two new electronic prescribing (eRx) significant hardship exemption categories pertaining to the EHR Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Program in the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rule.
These hardship exemptions categories are:
- Eligible professionals who achieve meaningful use during certain eRx timeframes. For the 2013 eRx payment adjustment, this will include any eligible professional who achieved meaningful use during January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012 and has attested to this by January 31, 2013.
- Eligible professionals who demonstrate intent to participate in the EHR Incentive Program and adoption of Certified EHR Technology by registering for the EHR Incentive Program by January 31, 2013. Please note: EHR Incentive Program participants must provide their entire EHR Certification Number in the CMS EHR Certification ID field during registration to receive this hardship.
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