The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has published additional information about meaningful use, attestation and payment in the frequently asked questions section of its incentive program website.

For example, in reference to statements that physicians and hospitals have demonstrated meaningful use, providers must agree that information submitted about clinical quality measures was generated from a certified electronic health record (EHR). They must also state that the information is accurate and complete regarding the numerators and denominators, or the ratio of patients seen for whom the provider has demonstrated a measure and that the EHR has generated a report.

CMS announced the additional frequently asked questions in an online notice May 6 and now has a total of 145 questions and answers at its website.

The agency does not require providers to supply any additional information beyond what the certified EHR technology generates in order to satisfy the requirement for submitting clinical quality measure data in the attestation process.

[See also: VA awards funds for telehealth, adverse drug innovation pilots.]

CMS also explained that a physician must have 50 percent or more of their patient encounters during the reporting period at locations or practices equipped with certified EHRs. A patient encounter is whenever medical treatment and/or evaluation and management services are provided. However, this requirement is different from that establishing patient volume under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

In another announcement, CMS said it will host an education call May 19 to offer providers more information about how to meet the requirements for stage 1 of meaningful use and how to verify it in the agency’s attestation module. CMS officials will be able to answer questions from the call-in audience.

More information about the call and how to register is at the website.