HHS Forum on EHRs Canceled

UPDATE: Due to scheduling conflicts, CMS postponed the EHR forum indefinitely. We will provide updated information when it is rescheduled.

Federal health officials are sponsoring a half-day forum in June about electronic health records and the financial incentives available to health care providers who make the transition. The forum, scheduled for the afternoon of June 16 in Columbia, Mo., is aimed especially at rural providers and small practices in the beginning stages of using EHR technology. The event is free of charge, and clinic business managers, office staff and clinicians are all encouraged to attend.

The forum will be hosted by the regional director of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and led by national and regional experts from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The forum will include discussions of provider requirements under the HITECH Act, how providers qualify for “meaningful use,” and the incentives, penalties and appeals process associated with the adoption of EHRs. CMS experts will be available throughout the afternoon to answer questions.

CMS Region 7’s chief medical officer will offer insights and lead a discussion on the future of health care quality reporting under the new MACRA standards. The forum is open to anyone in the health care system, but registration is required because space is limited. You can find more details and register online here.