Making the CEHRT Switch: EHR Upgrade Required for Incentive Payment Programs

Area of Science:

• Health Informatics
• Medical Technology Adoption
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Physicians utilize electronic health records (EHRs) for Medicare and Medicaid incentive programs.
• Current EHR versions (e.g., 2014 CEHRT) will soon be outdated for program participation.
• Transitioning to updated CEHRT is a mandatory requirement for eligible physicians.

Purpose of the Study:

• To inform physicians about the mandatory transition to 2015 certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT).
• To highlight the implications of CEHRT version changes on Medicare and Medicaid incentive payment programs.
• To frame the technology upgrade as a manageable process rather than a source of stress.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of regulatory requirements for Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs.
• Review of the timeline for CEHRT version mandates.
• Assessment of the impact of EHR technology on physician payment determination.

Main Results:

• Physicians using EHRs must upgrade to 2015 CEHRT for the 2019 performance period.
• Failure to adopt 2015 CEHRT will affect participation in incentive programs.
• The CEHRT version directly influences physician payment outcomes.

Conclusions:

• The adoption of 2015 CEHRT is an unavoidable requirement for physicians in incentive programs.
• A well-managed transition to new CEHRT versions can mitigate potential stress.
• Successful CEHRT implementation is critical for maintaining and determining physician payments.