ARRA: What’s a “Payment Year”?

There’s a bit of confusion (understandably so) regarding the specific dates associated with the ARRA funding, and the “Meaningful Use” requirements.

Unfortunately, the answer to the question “When do I need to be up and running with my EMR?” has a number of possibilities depending on your status:

For “Eligible Professionals”:

Filing for MEDICARE:

• A “Payment Year” is a calendar year starting in 2011.

Filing for MEDICAID:

• A “Payment Year” begins in 2010 for adoption, implementation or upgrading of a certified EHR.

• Meaningful Use begins in 2011.

REMEMBER – you can file for EITHER Medicare OR Medicaid, but NOT BOTH!

For Eligible Hospitals (or critical access hospitals):

“Payment Year” is based on the FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR (which is October 1 through September 30).

• A Payment Year begins in Fiscal Year (FY) 2011 (i.e. October 1, 2010)