In This Issue:

- Federal Updates

- State Updates

- HIPAA Updates

- Excerpt from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Issues Guidance for Meaningful Use Hardship Exception:

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued guidance for participating Stage 1 providers and hospitals applying for the hardship exemption to the meaningful use requirements due to technology vendor issues. The exemption will be applicable only to Medicare-participating providers and hospitals that are unable to meet the electronic health record (EHR) criteria for 2014. Applications for this exemption will relieve the applicant from monetary penalties in 2015 for failing to meet relevant meaningful use criteria. Similarly, to avoid payment penalties in 2015, providers and hospitals new to the meaningful use program in 2014 and unable to implement certified EHR technology in 2014 may also apply for a hardship exemption.