Important Meaningful Use Dates for 2011

HDM Breaking News, March 24, 2011

From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services comes a list of important dates in the electronic health records meaningful use program during the rest of 2011:

April 2011: Attestation for Medicare MU begins.

May 2011: The first Medicare MU incentive payments begin.

July 3: Last day for eligible hospitals to begin their 90-day reporting period during federal fiscal year 2011 to demonstrate Medicare MU.

Sept. 30: The federal fiscal year ends, as does the reporting year for hospitals.

Oct. 1: Last day for eligible professionals to begin their 90-day reporting period for calendar year 2011.

Nov. 30: Last day for eligible hospitals to register and attest to receive an incentive payment for federal fiscal year 2011.

Dec. 31: The 2011 calendar reporting year ends for eligible professionals.

Feb. 29, 2012: Last day for eligible professionals to register and attest to receive an incentive payment for calendar year 2011.

A lot more information on the EHR meaningful use programs is available at cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms.

--Joseph Goedert