CMS releases payment adjustments for 2017 EHR incentives

Editor's Note

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that starting October 1, 2016, hospitals that are still not meaningful users of electronic health records (EHRs) will be subjected to a reduced increase in their Inpatient Prospective Payment System rate, the September 2 Healthcare IT News reports.

The payment adjustment is tied to the reporting period of specific fiscal years:

• 25% decrease for FY 2015
• 50% decrease for FY 2016
• 75% decrease for FY 2017 and beyond.

Hospitals that aren’t meaningful users of EHRs may request hardship exceptions.

Eligible hospitals can apply for hardship exceptions for issues related to EHR vendors, infrastructure, natural disasters and more.