CMS to Test E-reporting of EHR Quality Measures

Hospitals that are participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program have the option to report their clinical quality measures in 2012 through an electronic reporting pilot. Otherwise, providers will continue to account for their demonstration of quality measures by attestation instead of electronically submitting the data, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The electronic reporting pilot is one of the provisions of a proposed rule that CMS released July 1 that updates payment policies and payment rates for outpatient care to Medicare beneficiaries in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers. CMS will publish the proposed rule in the July 18 Federal Register and the public will be able to comment until Aug. 30.

The pilot will advance the use of an electronic infrastructure that supports the use of EHRs by hospitals to meet requirements of various CMS quality programs, including meaningful use, and reduce providers’ reporting burden, the agency said in the proposed rule. CMS has said it plans to integrate reporting of clinical quality measures for both incentive programs.