July, 2017 is the deadline for hardship applications for the 2016 Medicare EHR Incentive Program (MU) to avoid the 2018 payment adjustment.
Eligible providers who failed to report Meaningful Use under the 2016 EHR Incentive Programs may be exempt from Medicare penalties if they can show that demonstrating Meaningful Use would have resulted in a significant hardship. To be considered for an exemption and avoid a payment adjustment in 2018, providers must complete a Hardship Exception Application by the July 1, 2017, deadline.
2018 Eligible Professional (EP) Hardship Form and instructions are available on the CMS website’s Payment Adjustments and Hardship Information page.
The application outlines several hardship reasons and also requires providers to “keep such records as are necessary to support the application submitted for a hardship exception,” and to “furnish those records both in the application and at a future time upon request,” by CMS or an auditor.
Please note: As none of the hardship reasons pertain to the availability of our certified software in 2016, NextGen Healthcare does not intend to provide letters or other documentation in support of the hardship application.