2014 MU Attestation Requires 2014 Edition Certified System

While there is no requirement for vendors to certify their systems to 2014 Edition HITECH Certification in 2014, any Meaningful Use Attestation that is done for 2014 must be done on 2014 Edition certified software.  This applies to both Stage 1 and Stage 2 Meaningful Use Attestation. 

Table 5 in the HITECH Final Rule states the following for MU Stage 1 or MU Stage 2 in 2014:  

 All EPs, EHs, and CAHs must have EHR technology certified to the 2014 Edition EHR certification criteria that meets the Base EHR definition and would support the objectives, measures, and their ability to successfully report the CQMs, for the MU stage that they seek to achieve.

The 2014 Meaningful Use Attestation has been shortened to a 90-day attestation period in order to give vendors time to certify and implement their 2014 Edition certified system for their clients.  Hospitals will need to be on 2014 certified software and begin attesting by July 3, 2014 in order to have 90 consecutive days in the fiscal year.  Ambulatory providers would need to be on 2014 certified software and begin attesting by October 3, 2014 in order to have 90 consecutive days in the calendar year.  

All EPs, EHs and CAHs must also report on 2014 Clinical Quality Measures beginning in 2014.