Frequently Asked Questions are used to provide additional information and/or statutory guidance not found in State Medicaid Director Letters, State Health Official Letters, or CMCS Informational Bulletins. The different sets of FAQs as originally released can be accessed below.
Frequently Asked Questions
To allow providers to meet the "view/download patient data" meaningful use objective, may a state request funding for personal health records (PHRs) under the current guidance for requesting health information exchange (HIE) funding?
Yes. Under Stage 2 meaningful use, providers must provide patients the ability to view online, download, and transmit the patients' health information. CMS understands that for many providers, utilizing a PHR through a HIE will be the best way to achieve this objective. As such, CMS allows states to request funding for PHRs under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program's guidelines for requesting HIE funding. The parameters for this funding are outlined in State Medicaid Director (SMD) Letter #10-016 and SMD Letter #11-004, which emphasizes the fair share and cost allocation principles. For a provider to use the PHR service via the HIE, the PHR technology would need to be certified as an EHR Module to meet the meaningful use objective's certification criterion. When reviewing a state's request for PHR funding, CMS will consider how the proposed PHR solution affects the state's entire HIE landscape and whether there are any other PHRs options in the state. CMS expects any proposed PHR solution to support providers and stakeholders throughout the state, and not just those who are eligible for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. This strategy will best promote sustainability by bringing in other payers and by avoiding the creation of silos.
Supplemental Links:
- This FAQ was released as part of a larger set. View the full set. (PDF, 288.05 KB)
FAQ ID:92551
SHARE URLUnder the CMS guidance for funding health information exchange (HIE) activities, could a state use HITECH funds to develop and implement functionality to allow patients to download their claims and/or clinical data that is housed in the Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS), similar to the "Blue Button" program in the Department of Veterans Affairs?
As State Medicaid Director (SMD) Letter #10-016 makes clear, states cannot use HITECH administrative funds on activities that could otherwise be funded with MMIS matching funds. That includes activities related to developing and implementing functionality to allow patients to download their data that is housed in the MMIS, because states could potentially use MMIS funds to create this functionality for claims or clinical data that is housed within the MMIS. It is CMS policy that MMIS funding is available for clinical decision support functionality that ties directly to the MMIS to reduce cost and improve outcomes. See 42 CFR 433 Subpart C, and State Medicaid Manual Part 11. Please note that MMIS funding would not be allowable for infrastructure outside the MMIS environment.
Supplemental Links:
- This FAQ was released as part of a larger set. View the full set. (PDF, 288.05 KB)
FAQ ID:92556
SHARE URLDoes a state have the option to utilize 90/10 HITECH administrative funding to update existing health information exchange (HIE) infrastructure to align with new federal HIE guidelines and requirements to exchange with Federal agencies?
Yes, states can utilize 90/10 HITECH administrative funding to update existing HIE infrastructure to align with new Federal HIE guidelines and requirements to exchange data with Federal agencies. For funding to be available for this purpose, the HIE infrastructure must be used to support Medicaid eligible providers in achieving meaningful use; for instance by supporting the achievement of the requirement to submit a summary of care record electronically for more than 10 percent of eligible transitions.
Supplemental Links:
- This FAQ was released as part of a larger set. View the full set. (PDF, 288.05 KB)
FAQ ID:92561
SHARE URLCan a state use 90/10 HITECH administrative funding for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program to upgrade existing Direct infrastructure to align with the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology's (ONC) Direct: Implementation Guidelines to Assure Security and Interoperability and/or requirements for exchanging with Federal agencies?
Yes, states can utilize 90/10 HITECH administrative funding for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program to upgrade existing Direct infrastructure, which supports eligible providers in achieving relevant meaningful use objectives, to align with ONC guidelines. For instance, states could use the funds to move from a single certificate for a Health Information Service Provider (HISP) to certificates being issued to each health care related organization in a HISP or a more granular component of an organization (e.g., by department or by individual).
Supplemental Links:
- This FAQ was released as part of a larger set. View the full set. (PDF, 288.05 KB)
FAQ ID:92566
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