Meaningful Use Attestation Starts

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on April 18 began the attestation process for demonstrating meaningful use of electronic health records to qualify for Medicare incentive payments.


The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on April 18 began the attestation process for demonstrating meaningful use of electronic health records to qualify for Medicare incentive payments.

The EHR Incentive Programs Web site now has a new attestation page for information on the process and to actually attest to compliance with meaningful use criteria. The Web site includes a meaningful use attestation calculator enabling providers to confirm they meet criteria before attesting to it and print a summary. Eligible professional and hospital user guides on the site walk providers through the attestation system prior to attesting.

The Web site soon will have attestation worksheets that enable providers to fill out meaningful use measure values and have the values at hand while attesting. CMS also soon will have videos on the site showing providers completing the attestation process.

Health Data Management on April 20 will host a Web Seminar focused on the meaningful use attestation process. Travis Broome, special assistant to the consortium administrator at CMS, will walk through the attestation module and answer questions about Stage 1 reporting for core and menu (alternative) measures, MU reporting periods, incentive payments, and participation in the EHR incentive programs. To register, click here.

--Joseph Goedert