On January 11, 2016, CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt announced that the Medicare Electronic Health Record Incentive Program will be replaced significantly in 2017 by the new Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) for physicians. Slavitt stated that CMS has been working closely with physician organizations, and has developed key themes that will guide the changes.  CMS plans to move from rewarding providers for the use of technology to rewarding providers for patient outcomes. In addition, Slavitt stated that providers will be able to better customize their technology needs. Moreover, Slavitt explained that CMS is very focused on healthcare technology interoperability to further enhance use. Importantly, however, these new reforms are focused on physicians, not hospitals.

CMS will release more details on how the Meaningful Use program will change under MIPS in the next few months, according to Slavitt.  Slavitt made his remarks regarding the changes at the J.P. Morgan Annual Health Care Conference. The transcript is available here.

Reporter, Lauren Gennett, Atlanta, + 1 404 572 3592, lgennett@kslaw.com.