Medicaid Promoting Interoperability/Electronic Health Record Incentive Program
The Department of Health Care Finance offers incentives for utilizing electronic health record (EHR) systems to deliver patient care and connect with patients and other providers.
The DC Medicaid Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program, previously known as the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program or Meaningful Use, has already rewarded hundreds of District providers who adopted, implemented, upgraded, or demonstrated meaningful use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) in ways that improve quality, safety, and effectiveness of patient-centered care.
- WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO EARN INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PI PROGRAM?
- HOW DO PROVIDERS EARN PI PROGRAM INCENTIVES?
- WHEN DID THE PROGRAM START AND HOW MUCH HAS BEEN PAID TO DISTRICT MEDICAID PROVIDERS?
- IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED FOR PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PI PROGRAM?
- HOW DO I ATTEST TO THE DC PI PROGRAM?
- WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?
- WHO SHOULD I CONTACT FOR ASSISTANCE?
WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO EARN INCENTIVES FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PI PROGRAM?
Eligible professionals (EPs) may receive incentive payments up to $63,750 over a six-year period upon demonstrating meaningful use of the EHRs. The following provider types are eligible to participate in the DC Medicaid PI Program: (1) Physicians, (2) Dentists, (3) Nurse Practitioners, and (4) Certified Nurse Midwives. To participate, EPs must also have a minimum of 30% Medicaid patient volume (20% for pediatricians) or practice predominantly in a FQHC and have a minimum of 30% patient volume attributable to needy individuals.
Eligible hospitals (EHs) may receive payments based on two calculated components - EHR amount and Medicaid share – over a three-year period upon demonstrating meaningful use. The following hospitals are eligible to participate in the DC Medicaid PI Program: (1) Acute Care Hospitals, and (2) Children’s Hospitals.
The last year to enter the DC Medicaid PI program was 2017 and the final year for participation in the program is 2021.
HOW DO PROVIDERS EARN PI PROGRAM INCENTIVES?
Providers may earn incentives by using their certified EHR system to meet a set of objectives and measures related to improving health outcomes, securely exchanging health information, expanding patient access to their health data, as well as protecting the privacy and security of patient health data. The requirements for the program are set by a October 6, 2015 rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services titled, CMS EHR Incentive Program Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015 through 2017. This Final Rule addresses the most recent requirements for the incentive program for both EPs and EHs.
WHEN DID THE PROGRAM START AND HOW MUCH HAS BEEN PAID TO DISTRICT MEDICAID PROVIDERS?
As part of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment (ARRA) Act, The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH) established the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, now known as the Promoting Interoperability Program.
The District originally launched the Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program in 2013. Enrollment in the program has gradually increased. As of April 2021, the following payment amounts have been made to eligible providers and hospitals in the District:
| Eligible Professionals | Eligible Hospitals | |
|---|---|---|
| Adopt, Implement or Upgrade (AIU) | 264 | 5 |
| MU | 386 | 10 |
| Amount Paid | $9,082,250 | $25,468,439 |
| Total Paid | $34,550,689 |
*updated April 2021
IS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OFFERED FOR PROVIDERS PARTICIPATING IN THE PI PROGRAM?
The District has continued its partnership with eHealthDC, a DC Primary Care Association program, to
provide free technical assistance to District Medicaid providers.
eHealthDC leads a multi-year technical assistance program intended to:
- Assist staff and providers with better utilization of EHRs in accordance with the current practice workflows and program requirements
- Provide exceptional Promoting Interoperability technical and on-site support to improve in weak performance areas to meet the program requirements
All eligible District providers interested in taking advantage of eHealthDC’s free technical assistance support should contact eHealthDC staff directly at [email protected] or call (202) 552-2331. Please visit their website for more information.
HOW DO I ATTEST TO THE DC PI PROGRAM?
The Promoting Interoperability Program operates in Program Years. A Program Year is a typically a full calendar year during which a provider can meet the program requirements. However, given the shortened time frame for Program Year 2021, providers will be required to select a 90 day EHR reporting period anytime between January 1, 2021 to August 31, 2021.
DHCF is pleased to announce the opening of Program Year 2021 for the DC Medicaid PI Program on June 1, 2021. Attestation for Program Year 2021 will close promptly on August 31, 2021. DHCF does not anticipate an extension to this deadline. Providers may attest to the program requirements through the State-Level Repository here: https://dcslr.thinkhts.com.
Below are some important tips you need to know about meeting the Promoting Interoperability Program requirements in Program Year 2020.
Requirements to Meet the PI Program Requirements:
- All EPs must attest to the Stage 3 Objective and Measure requirements. All providers are required to attest to a single set of 8 objectives and measures.
- View the Stage 3 Specification Sheets for EPs here.
- To meet Stage 3 requirements, all providers must use technology certified to the 2015 Edition. A provider who has technology certified to a combination of the 2015 Edition and 2014 Edition may potentially attest to the Stage 3 requirements, if the mix of certified technologies would not prohibit them from meeting the Stage 3 measures. However, a provider who has technology certified to the 2014 Edition only may not attest to Stage 3.
- All EPs must report Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs) of a continuous 90-day period between January 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021 Only.
- EPs must conduct their Security Risk Assessment during Calendar Year 2021. The 2021 SRA can be a review of the prior year SRA or a new SRA.
- In 2021, for all returning participants, the EHR reporting period is a minimum of any continuous 90 days between January 1, 2021 and August 31, 2021 only.
Stage 3 includes flexibility within certain objectives to allow providers to choose the measures most relevant to their patient population or practice. The Stage 3 objectives with flexible measure options include:
- Coordination of Care through Patient Engagement – Providers must attest to all three measures and must meet the thresholds for at least two measures to meet the objective.
- Health Information Exchange – Providers must attest to all three measures and must meet the thresholds for at least two measures to meet the objective.
- Public Health Reporting – Eligible professionals must report on two measures and eligible hospitals must report on four measures.
To determine eligibility for the PI Program, EPs will be required to submit supporting documentation to validate all attested Stage 3 objectives and measures. For more guidance, please refer here:
- PY 2021 DC Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Attestation Checklist
- PY 2021 DC Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Pre-Eligibility Checklist
- PY 2021 DC Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Eligible Professionals (EP) Workbook
- PY 2021 DC Declaration of Readiness Public Health Reporting
WHAT OTHER RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE?
- PY 2020 and PY 2021 District of Columbia Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Provider Guidance
- SLR Vendor Notice: Health Information Exchange Measure
- Medicare and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program Basics
- Certified Electronic Health Record Technology
- Clinical Quality Measures Basics
- eCQM Library
- EHR Incentive Program Registration, Attestation & PECOS Checklist
- Stage 3 Objectives and Measures for 2020
WHO SHOULD I CONTACT FOR ASSISTANCE?
If you need assistance with DHCF's Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program, please contact:
| Specialty Area | Contact | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEIP General Inquiries | Eduarda Koch | [email protected] | (202) 673-3561 |
| MEIP Pre-Payment Verification | Adaeze Okonkwo | [email protected] | (202) 478-9227 |