On November 24, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it would extend the deadline for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) to attest to meaningful use for the 2014 reporting year in the Medicare Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program.  The deadline was extended for a month, from November 30, 2014 to December 31, 2014.

CMS granted the extension to “allow more time for hospitals to submit their meaningful use data and receive an incentive payment for the 2014 program year, as well as avoid the 2016 Medicare payment adjustment.”  This extension comes in the wake of continued criticism of the EHR Incentive Program’s timelines, particularly with respect to providers and hospitals that must attest this year to the Stage 2 requirements for the first time.

CMS did not extend provider deadlines in the announcement.