CMS Poised to Penalize 171,000 under MU

Baltimore, MD - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on December 20 that approximately 171,000 Medicare Eligible Professionals in the Electronic Health Records Incentive Program (meaningful use) will be subject to a downward payment adjustment in 2017 for failing to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records. Downward payment adjustments have decreased from previous years. For example, in 2016 approximately 209,000 were penalized and in 2015 approximately 257,000 eligible providers were penalized.

The magnitude of the penalties are surprising given that Congress in 2015 mandated a more streamlined approach to hardship exemptions for 2016 and beyond.