June 2020 HIT Newsletter

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In this issue

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Clinical Data Repository (CDR):

Electronic Health Records (EHR):

  • CMS account security: 1-866-484-8049 option #1, then option #1 again

Clinical Data Repository updates

Telehealth

HCA supports the use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic to help clients and providers stay connected. Contact HCA if you are a provider in need of:

  • Teleconferencing licenses
  • Loaner laptops

HCA is distributing Zoom free of charge to providers who have a meaningful need for this platform to support continuity of care and who don’t already have access to telehealth technology.

HCA is also supporting the Behavioral Health Institute (BHI) to provide training and technical assistance to behavioral health providers to support their use of telehealth.

How to get CDR access

For new subscribers, and until further notice, OneHealthPort is waiving the HIE participant annual subscription fee for one year to view patient data through the CDR web portal. Use of other HIE services during this period voids the offer. Please contact OneHealthPort for complete details.

The CDR web portal

The CDR web portal is available for viewing by all licensed professionals. This includes physical and behavioral health providers and their delegates.

  • All organizations viewing CDR data must be a HIPAA covered entity and have a HIE participation agreement with OneHealthPort.
  • Only staff with a need to view individual client-level data may access the CDR. (As determined by their manager and configured by their internal IT access staff.) This is similar to how your organization grants electronic health records access.
  • Users can complete training in one hour or less. Organizations using the CDR will not incur training costs from OneHealthPort or HCA. Reference materials are available on OneHealthPort’s website.

CDR “101”

As always, please contact us about presenting an overview of the CDR to your virtual gathering of healthcare industry professionals at healthit@hca.wa.gov.

Promoting Interoperability updates

2020 Attestations

2020 attestations begin on July 25, 2020. Please make sure you are prepared by visiting some tools on our website:

If you have questions or concerns you can contact us at healthit@hca.wa.gov.

EHR program final years

2020 and 2021 are the final years to attest to the EHR Incentive Program. Be sure to attest to both years to get maximum program incentives. 

Register for the monthly EHR Q&A webinar

Register for the monthly EHR Q&A webinar to stay up to date on the program and have any questions answered. We meet the fourth Tuesday of each month. 

From CMS: Medicare Hardship Exception

Please note that this is for Medicare and not the Medicaid program.

The Deadline for Eligible Hospitals to Submit their Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Hardship Exception Application is Tuesday, September 1

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires that all eligible hospitals use 2015 Edition certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) to meet the requirements of the Promoting Interoperability Programs. CMS mandates downward payment adjustments be applied to eligible hospitals that are not meaningful users of CEHRT.

Eligible hospitals may be exempt from Medicare penalties if they can show that compliance with the requirement for being a meaningful EHR user would result in a significant hardship. To be considered for an exemption, eligible hospitals must complete a hardship exception application and provide proof of hardship. If approved, the hardship exception is valid for only one payment adjustment year. Eligible hospitals would need to submit a new application for subsequent years and in no case may an eligible hospital be granted an exception for more than five years.

The application for eligible hospitals is available online as a web-based application and can be found here. Previously registered users should already have account access, and new users can create an account by visiting QualityNet and selecting “Register”.

Hardship Exception Application Details

  • You may now submit hardship applications electronically here.
  • If an electronic submission is not possible, you may verbally submit your application over the phone by calling the QualityNet Help Desk at (866) 288-8912.
  • The deadline for eligible hospitals to submit an application is September 1, 2020. Please note: This deadline has been extended from the original date of July 1, 2020 due to COVID-19.

For More Information

For more information about payment adjustments and hardship information, click here. For more information on the Promoting Interoperability Programs, visit the Promoting Interoperability Programs website.

Washington All-Payer Claims Database (WA-APCD)

Washington state’s All-Payer Claims Database: Update

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is happy to announce the successful transition of the WA-APCD program administrator role effective January 1, 2020.

The WA-APCD improves service and payment information in many new ways – comprehensive, timely, and reliable data across payers and inclusive of medical, dental, and workers compensation insurance types. WA-APCD data is fueling new research about the most effective and efficient health care delivery, variation and inconsistencies in the system, and more. The program’s flagship website, Washington HealthCareCompare, puts cost and quality data into the hands of the public.

Keep up with what’s happening in the world of WA-APCD by receiving our newsletter. To do this, signup on GovDelivery and click Washington State All-Payer Claims Database (WA-APCD) – Newsletter. You will find this under the heading HCA Reporting