You and your peers may be able avoid the 1% e-Prescribing (e-Rx) Medicare payment penalty if you qualify for one of CMS’s new proposed hardship exemptions outlined in its May 26 proposed rule. If finalized, the wil give providers a more flexible timeline and more options to claim a hardship exemption for not being able to meet the e-Rx requirement by June 30. 

Patient data stored in existing electronic health record (EHR) systems isn't very secure, according to new reports from the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG). In an audit of seven different hospitals, the OIG uncovered 151 "vulnerabilities," of which 124 were determined to be "high impact." That term means the vulnerabilities could result in costly losses of tangible assets, may significantly harm an organization's reputation, and may even cause injury or death to patients.

CMS released a new batch of FAQs Friday regarding Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, which could aid your eager pursuit of attesting meaningful use. Some of CMS's responses include clarification on what "exchange of electronic information" means in the “capability to exchange key clinical information” objective, how to count patients in “swing beds” and in nursery day care as part of the meaningful use denominator and more.

CMS is preparing to send out the first-ever batch of incentive checks earned by providers who met meaningful use under the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive program. Supposedly, the first payments will go out by the end of this week, which effectively means later today or tomorrow.

CMS is launching three new initiatives relating to Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) that have nothing to do with the ACO proposed rule, but come instead from the agency's new Innovation Center. Remember: The Innovation Center was established by the health reform law as a testing ground for new Medicare payment models aimed at curbing the unsustainable cost of the nation's priciest entitlement program.