Medicaid EHR Incentive Program for Eligible Professionals

CORHIO is assisting the Department of Health Care Policy & Financing (the Department) in closing activities for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Resources are available below to help participants navigate closing of the program. The Department and the state appointed auditors Myers & Stauffer LC (MSLC) are currently conducting post-audits for Program Year (PY) 2019, 2020 and 2021 for final stages of sunsetting (closing) process.

Post-Payment Audits

The Department, CORHIO or MSLC may send communications to participants during the audit process, and it is recommended to keep a watchful eye on your email inbox, clutter or junk folders and respond in a timely manner. All participants are expected to retain documentation used during the attestation process for all program years for a minimum of seven years from the date of attestation in preparation for post-payment review. Being prepared will help tremendously in getting through the audit process.

Appreciation

The Department and CORHIO would like to extend its appreciation to all EPs, Eligible Hospitals, Critical Access Hospitals, Federally Qualified Health Centers, Rural Health Centers, Administrators, Office Managers, Staff and many more who worked tirelessly to attest to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and in doing so, promoted interoperability in Colorado. In addition to contributing to improving patient care for our most vulnerable population.

Over the past several PYs, several MAPIR system testers helped the Department and CORHIO, easing the transition to beginning a new PY for other attestors. Thank you for your assistance throughout the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

Program History

Beginning in 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in conjunction with the various states began the Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program to encourage Medicaid EPs, Medicaid EHs and Medicaid CAHs to adopt, implement, upgrade (AIU) and demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology (CEHRT).

In 2018, CMS renamed the program to Promoting Interoperability Program (Colorado made the decision to keep the name Medicaid EHR Incentive Program). The adoption and utilization of CEHRT by EPs, EHs and CAHs who successfully adopted, implemented or upgraded their CEHRT in the first program year received an incentive payment and continued to receive incentive payments for demonstrating meaningful use in subsequent program years.

The Medicaid EHR Incentive Program aided EPs, EHs and CAHs to utilize their CEHRT and in doing so, promote interoperability and provide quality care for the states most vulnerable patient populations. Participants benefited from the program through increased communication, cost cutting, improved care coordination, patient engagement, data sharing to reduce redundancies and much more.

Historically, the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program consisted of three stages:

• Stage 1 - Data capture and sharing

• Stage 2 - Advanced clinical processes

• Stage 3 - Improved outcomes

Total Program Payments

The last year to begin participating in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program was PY 2016. EPs received Medicaid EHR incentive payments for up to six years with 2021 being the final year for incentive payments (please see CMS tables below). Colorado Medicaid EHs and CAHs received incentive payments for up to three years.

The below table illustrates the maximum Medicaid EHR incentive payments an EP can receive by year and the total incentive payments possible if an EP successfully qualifies for an incentive payment each year.

Table: Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments by Calendar Year

 Medicaid EHR Incentive Payments by Year

Eligible Provider Success

Colorado had 4,000 Medicaid eligible professionals adopt, implement or upgrade (AIU) and received incentive payments over $103 million dollars in the first five years of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. In the first six years of the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, Colorado experienced over 5,000 EPs successfully meet meaningful use (MU). With PY 2016 being the most engaging year having over 700 AIU attestations and more than 1,000 MU attestations— making the 2016 program year the most profitable year for Colorado’s providers. The graph below shows how many providers attested throughout the program and the incentive dollars received. The final PY is now underway bringing a strong close to the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and appreciation for the EPs hard work in achieving MU and promoting interoperability.

Incentive Payment Dollars

Medicaid EHR Program Resources by the Numbers

CORHIO, in partnership with the State, is proud to have supported our Colorado Medicaid EHR Incentive Program participants with phone and email support, educational events and webinars. In support of participants, many webinars were created and 3,194 views were documented. Furthermore, six in-person events were produced giving participants the knowledge to attest confidently and ask questions live. CORHIO responded to over 3,000 phone calls and 11,643 emails to facilitate participants attesting to the program. With each new program year new workbooks, overview and tips sheets were made to help prepare participants to successfully attest and receive incentive payments.

Questions on the EHR Incentive Programs?

Medicaid - Contact the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Coordinator at medicaidEHR@corhio.org or 720-285-3232.

Medicare - Call the CMS EHR Information Center at 888.734.6433 for assistance.

Resources

Sign up for Medicaid EHR Incentive Program newsletter

Email your name and organization name to medicaidEHR@corhio.org or 720-285-3232.

To review past issues, go to our Newsletter directory page.

 
 

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