Attestation for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program

The Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program began April 19, 2011. This means that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) can attest through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) web-based attestation system and be on their way to receiving Medicare EHR incentive payments.

How to Successfully Attest

Several new CMS resources can help you successfully navigate the Medicare EHR Incentive Program:

• CMS EHR Incentive Programs Attestation
  Provides important information on attestation.
• The Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator
  Allows EPs and eligible hospitals to check whether they have met meaningful use guidelines before they attest in the system. The calculator prints a copy of each EP's or eligible hospital's specific measure summary.
• Registration User Guide for Eligible Professionals (3.5 MB)
  Provides step-by-step guidance for EPs on navigating the attestation system.
• Attestation User Guide for Eligible Hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (6.5 MB)
  Provides step-by-step guidance for eligible hospitals and CAHs on navigating the attestation system.

Worksheets and Webinars

Coming soon are attestation worksheets for EPs and eligible hospitals which allow users to fill out their meaningful use measure values, so they have a quick reference tool to use while attesting. Attestation video webinars will provide a video version of the user guides for EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs. The videos show EP and eligible hospital representatives completing the attestation process.

Participation without Attestation

If you are not ready to attest, follow these steps to participate in the programs:

1. Make sure you meet eligibility criteria for the EHR Incentive Programs.

2. Get registered.
Registration is open for EPs, eligible hospitals, and CAHs. For more details on registration, visit EHR Incentive Programs Registration.

3. Use certified EHR technology.
To receive incentive payments, make sure the EHR technology you're using or are considering buying has been certified by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. For more information, view Certified EHR Technology.

4. Be a Meaningful User.
You have to successfully demonstrate "meaningful use" for a consecutive 90-day period in your first year of participation (and for a full year in each subsequent years) to receive EHR incentive payments. Visit the EMS EHR Meaningful Use Overview to learn about meaningful use objectives and measures.

5. Attest for incentive payments.
To get your EHR incentive payment, you must attest through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System that you've demonstrated meaningful use with certified EHR technology.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs? Visit the EHR Incentive Programs Overview for the latest news and updates.