On May 14, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it is taking applications for hardship exemptions for eligible professionals to avoid meaningful use penalties starting next year. Payment adjustments for eligible professionals that did not successfully participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in 2014 will begin on Jan. 1, 2016. Medicare eligible professionals can avoid the 2016 payment adjustment by taking action by July 1 and applying for a 2016 hardship exception.

The hardship exception applications and instructions for an individual and for multiple Medicare eligible professionals are available on the EHR Incentive Programs website, and outline the specific types of circumstances that CMS considers to be barriers to achieving meaningful use, and how to apply.

In order to apply for the hardship Exemption applications must be submitted electronically or postmarked no later than 11:59 p.m. ET on July 1, 2015 to be considered. If approved, the exception is valid for the 2016 payment adjustment only. If you intend to claim a hardship exception for a subsequent payment adjustment year, a new application must be submitted for the appropriate year. 

Keywords: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S., Health Expenditures, Meaningful Use, Medicaid, Medicare

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