July 7, 2016
AMGA Supports CMS Inclusion of 90-day EHR Reporting Period for 2016 in OPPS RuleCMS Revisions Indicate a Response to Concerns from AMGA and other Stakeholders
Newswise — Alexandria, VA –Today, AMGA voiced support for revisions in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) CY 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment proposed rule, released yesterday. AMGA specifically supported a change included in the new rule that would allow clinicians, hospitals, and critical access hospitals to use a 90-day electronic health record (EHR) reporting period in 2016―a shorter timeframe than the previous standard of a full calendar year for returning program participants. The revision suggests that CMS is responding to the concerns of AMGA and other stakeholders regarding the timeframe.
AMGA has long advocated for a shorter reporting period that would allow participants, coordinating vendors, and third-party interoperability partners to make the necessary progress in adopting technology systems with suitable interoperability in a more realistic and less burdensome timeframe. CMS stated that the change “increases flexibility and lowers the reporting burden for hospital providers.”
“We are pleased that CMS has proposed a reporting period that gives providers and vendors an appropriate amount of time to coordinate more closely, ensuring that providers could easily and efficiently share health information to support care delivery and new models of care,” said Donald W. Fisher, Ph.D., CAE, AMGA’s president and chief executive officer. “AMGA remains committed to successfully using EHR technology to improve health care for patients. We appreciate the changes that CMS has made in response to our concerns and look forward to working with the agency to find solutions that will enhance the safe, effective, and efficient delivery of health care.”
About AMGAAMGA is a 501(c)(6) trade association representing medical groups, health systems, and other organized systems of care, including some of the nation's largest, most prestigious integrated delivery systems. AMGA is a leading voice in advocating for efficient, team-based, and accountable care. AMGA members encompass all models of organized systems of care in the healthcare industry, including: physician-owned, independent group practices, integrated delivery systems, hospital-affiliated medical groups, independent practice associations (IPAs), academic and faculty practices, accountable care organizations, and high-performing health systems. Approximately 170,000 physicians practice in AMGA member organizations, providing healthcare services for 120 million patients (approximately one in three Americans). Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, AMGA is the strategic partner for these organizations, providing a comprehensive package of benefits, including political advocacy, educational and networking programs, publications, benchmarking data services, and financial and operations assistance. amga.org
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