Obama Signs Bill To Expand Eligibility for Meaningful Use Exemptions for Providers

President Obama has signed into law a bill (S 2425), by Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), that expands providers' eligibility for hardship exemptions to Stage 2 of the meaningful use program. Under the 2009 economic stimulus package, providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments. Leslie Krigstein, vice president of congressional affairs at the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, said the bill will allow providers flexibility and help CMS better facilitate the process of granting hardship exemptions.

• "Meaningful Use Hardship Exceptions Bill Signed Into Law" (Heath, EHR Intelligence, 12/30/15).
• "Obama Signs Meaningful Use Hardship Exemption Bill Into Law" (Dvorak, FierceEMR, 12/29/15).