What You Need to Know
UPCOMING DEADLINES
At eMDs it’s our mission to make sure that our customers are prepared to meet the challenges of regulatory and compliance mandates. We’ve prepared this infographic to highlight the key changes coming in 2019.
JANUARY 1, 2019
2019 REPORTING
PERIOD BEGINS
Quality Performance Program
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) ended the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which would have resulted in a significant cut to payment rates for clinicians participating in Medicare. By law, MACRA requires CMS to implement an incentive program, referred to as the Quality Payment Program, which provides two participation tracks for clinicians:
- Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) - If you are a MIPS eligible clinician, you will be subject to a performance-based payment adjustment through MIPS.
- Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) - If you decide to take part in an Advanced APM, you may earn a Medicare incentive payment for sufficiently participating in an innovative payment model.
MORE ABOUT MIPS
MIPS combines three legacy programs—Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program for Eligible Professionals, Physician Quality Reporting System, and the Value-Based Payment Modifier—into a single, improved program.
- QUALITY MEASURES
- PROMOTING INTEROPERABILITY
- IMPROVEMENT ACTIVITIES
- COST MEASURES
HOW TO PREPARE
UPGRADE TO 2015 CEHRT SOLUTION
The 2019 Quality Performance Program requires participants to be using a 2015 CEHRT solution. eMDs offers three products that are 2015 edition compliant and have been certified by an ONC-ACB in accordance with the applicable certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Solution Series 9.1
- Practice Partner 11.2
- Plus V4
REGISTER WITH A QUALITY REPORTING PARTNER
eMDs has partnered with FIGmd to offer customers a quality reporting solution for regulatory requirements. FIGmd’s ELIXIR is the gateway to effective, Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and CPC+ Advanced Alternative Payment Model (APM) reporting. The ELIXIR interface links your EHR to a desired registry. When a practice connects to the registry through ELIXIR, it streamlines the reporting process and allows practitioners to go beyond quality measures and achieve meaningful performance and improvement.
Registrations for 2019 performance period are now open. Register or renew today. Deadlines to enroll in registeries are as early as July 2019.
JUNE 30, 2019
FLORIDA REAL-TIME IMMUNIZATION INTERFACE
Real-time data exchange allows immunizing providers to instantly report and track shot data.
By July 1, 2019 all data upload connections will be moving to real-time web services. Florida SHOTS user, patients records will be processed immediately so that 680 forms can be instantly created and printed. In addition, Florida is also requiring all immunization data be compliant with the 2015 CEHRT ONC criteria.
Four data upload certification levels for software providers have been created. Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze certification levels qualify software provider data upload capabilities and what they mean to healthcare providers.
eMDs is making enhancements to all of our EHRs to address these new requirements. We will have the highest certification level - Platinum. Updates will be available in Solution Series 9.1, Practice Partner 11.2, and Plus. Please contact your account manager to upgrade to the latest version of your solution.
UPGRADE TO
2015 CEHRT SOLUTION
Set the date and make a plan to upgrade to the 2015 CEHRT version of your software today. Take advantage of new capabilities and conveniences not available in your current version. 2015 CEHRT solutions are available for Solutions Series 9.1, Practice Partner 11.2, and Plus.
If you are planning on attesting for any of the Quality Performance Programs in 2019, you will need to be on a 2015 CEHRT product. You will also need these versions to take advantage of our new patient portal and eMDs prescribe features.
IMPLEMENT
eMDs PRESCRIBE SOLUTION
Our prescribing enhancements are sure to WOW you. Not only will this exciting update reduce clicks and provide a fresh, new look and feel, but it will also eliminate IT burden. Some of the perks include: no more pharmacy matching or mapping, a continuous workflow for prescribing, the ability to cancel and fill prescriptions, no more time consuming drug updates, plus much more. eMDs Prescribe is available in Solution Series 9.1, Practice Partner 11.2, and Plus.
Warning: If you ePrescribe in Solution Series you will need to upgrade to 9.1 by June 30 to continue to write prescriptions and to receive the Q2 Quarterly Drug Update.
ENHANCE
THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE
Our new Patient Portal powered by Updox is user friendly, customizable to your practice preferences, and accessible anywhere with an internet connection. With the patient portal you can message patients securely, share healthcare results, provide forms proactively, educate patients on new services, deliver full record access, and broadcast urgent messages.
Available in Solution Series 9.1, Practice Partner 11.2, and Plus.
JULY 9, 2019
END OF SUPPORT
SQL Server 2008 R2
Microsoft will end all support (including security patches, updates and technical assistance) for SQL Server 2008 R2 on July 9, 2019. Continuing to use systems that are no longer supported with security patches will put your organization at-risk and violates HIPAA compliance requirements to protect devices against malicious software.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Begin planning for an update as soon as possible. Review our Hardware and Software Requirements document.
All environments maintained by eMDs have been updated to ensure strict levels of security.
HIPAA COMPLIANCE
TLS 1.2 Security Protocol
Your security is of utmost importance to our team, and we are committed to protecting your sensitive financial and patient related health information. To maintain modern security standards, eMDs will be following the industry leaders (Apple - Safari, Google - Chrome, Mozilla - Firefox, and Microsoft - Edge and Internet Explorer) in dropping support for TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 in implementing changes in our web applications and APIs. Continuing to support the older versions of the protocol can leave you vulnerable to attacks.
What do you need to do?
For many of you, this change is one that you will not notice. If you are using a modern browser, it already supports our changes. However, if you are using legacy browsers or operating systems, you will notice this change. If you are still using Windows XP or Windows 2003, you will need to upgrade your operating system to Windows 10 or, for the server version 2012.
If you are using these legacy operating systems, you will need to be sure you are using a browser that will work:
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If you are on Windows 7, Internet Explorer will no longer work – you will have to use Chrome or Firefox.
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No version of Safari prior to 9 will work.
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No version of Internet Explorer prior to 11 on Windows 10 will work. Note, Internet Explorer 11 will no longer work on Windows 7, only on Windows 10.
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Any version of Edge will work on Windows 10.
SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
Deadline for Minimum 90-Day Reporting Requirement for QPP
OCT. 1, 2019
FIGmd ELIXIR Registry Closes
FIGmd is eMDs preferred partner for quality reporting of regulatory requirements. RETURNING practices must complete their ELIXIR renewal by 10/01/2019, or they may be required to manually report in 2019. NEW practices must complete ELIXIR and Registry enrollment by the Registry "electronic enrollment deadline" if they wish to report electronically in 2019.
Practices must adhere to the Registry ELECTRONIC ENROLLMENT DEADLINES in order to report electronically for 2019. If a practice misses one of the registry deadlines below, they may be advised by the Registry that they need to report manually in 2019.
DECEMBER 31, 2019
SCRIPT 2017
Upgraded Customers Automatically Receive SCRIPT 2017 Update
Medicare Part D will officially adopt NCPDP SCRIPT version 201701 for electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) on January 1, 2020 and will simultaneously retire SCRIPT version 10.6.
WHO MUST USE THE NEW STANDARD?
The changeover applies to prescribers and dispensers who electronically transmit prescription and other information for covered drugs prescribed for Medicare Part D eligible beneficiaries, either directly or through an intermediary. Medicare Advantage plans also must comply.
HOW CAN YOU PREPARE?
eMDs Prescribe updates include SCRIPT 2017. You must upgrade to a 2015 CEHRT solution in order to access the eMDs Prescribe and SCRIPT 2017 updates. eMDs 2015 CEHRT products include Plus, Solution Series 9.1, Practice Partner 11.2, and Aprima V18.2 or greater.
JANUARY 1, 2020
End of Support for Windows Server 2008 R2
Microsoft will end all support (including security patches, updates and technical assistance) for Windows Server 2008 R2 on January 14, 2019. Continuing to use systems that are no longer supported with security patches will put your organization at-risk and violates HIPAA compliance requirements to protect devices against malicious software.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Begin planning for an update as soon as possible. Review our Hardware and Software Requirements document.
All environments maintained by eMDs have been updated to ensure strict levels of security.
QUESTIONS?
Reach out to your account executive today for more information.
