For the 2014 reporting period only, all providers regardless of their stage of Meaningful Use, are only required to demonstrate Meaningful Use for a three-month (90-day) EHR reporting period. Medicare participating EPs beyond their first year of meaningful use must select a three-month reporting period fixed to the quarter of the calendar year for reporting. All providers must attest to these reporting periods with CMS no later than February 28, 2015 at 12 am Eastern Time.

For Medicare providers, this 3-month reporting period is fixed to the quarter of either the fiscal (for eligible hospitals and CAHs) or calendar (for EPs) year in order to align with existing CMS quality measurement programs, such as the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting (IQR). CMS is permitting this one-time three-month reporting period in 2014 only so that all providers who must upgrade to 2014 Certified EHR Technology will have adequate time to implement their new Certified EHR systems.

Beginning in 2015, EPs who do not successfully demonstrate Meaningful Use will be subject to a payment adjustment. The payment reduction starts at 1% and increases each year that an EP does not demonstrate meaningful use with a maximum of 5%. For more information regarding the EHR Incentive Payment Schedule, please visit: Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment Schedule for EPs.

EPs who are in their first year of Meaningful Use can report for any 90 day period, however, in order to avoid a payment adjustment in 2015 they must meet Meaningful Use and attest prior to October 1, 2014.  This means that first year Meaningful Use providers should begin their reporting period no later than July 1st, 2014 and complete attestation by using the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System prior to October 1, 2014.