On April 20, Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), along with Reps. Renee Ellmers (R-NC), Tom Price, MD (R-GA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ron Kind (D-WI), Bobby Rush (D-IL), and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced S. 2822/H.R. 5001, the Flexibility in Electronic Health Record (EHR) Reporting Act [PDF]. ACC Advocacy was instrumental in securing the lead cosponsors for this bipartisan, bicameral legislation, which would shorten the EHR Incentive Program (Meaningful Use) reporting period from one year to 90 days in 2016, as it was in 2014 and 2015.

On March 15, ACC Advocacy signed on to a letter [PDF] to the Acting Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Andy Slavitt, in support of this policy. "The ACC is very pleased that Congress has recognized the administrative burdens placed on clinicians and practices by the Meaningful Use program," stated ACC President Richard A. Chazal, MD, FACC. "The flexibility [of a 90-day reporting period] would be of great value to the health care community given the impending changes to the Medicare program brought about by the passage of MACRA."

Chazal added that “this bipartisan, bicameral legislation offers welcome relief by creating a 90-day reporting period for the EHR incentive program, something many medical specialty societies have consistently supported. We look forward to working with members of the House and Senate to ensure this legislation is passed quickly."

Keywords: Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015

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