CMS Offers Guidance on EHR Incentive Appeals

Hospitals and clinicians that have failed to obtain payments through the government's Medicare electronic health-record system incentive program and those seeking to challenge a payment amount now can look to the CMS for guidance on the appeals process.

The appeals deadline for hospitals has been extended from Dec. 31, 2011, to Jan. 30, 2012, according to the site.

The CMS has contracted with Provider Resources of Erie, Pa., to work with the agency's Office of Clinical Standards and Quality "to provide customer service support and technical assistance" to providers seeking an appeal of a decision involving the EHR incentive program, which was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Source: Modern Healthcare

Appeals decisions will be posted at OCSQ Appeals beginning in February.

Administrative-appeals information is available for download from the CMS' website for hospitals and healthcare professionals that have been deemed ineligible to participate in the program or denied meaningful-user status. Information also is available about payment calculation appeals.