Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio)

Yesterday, Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio) and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado), along with U.S. Representatives Renee Elmers, Tom Price, M.D., Bobby Rush and Ron Kind introduced the Flexibility in Electronic Health Record (EHR) Reporting Act, which would shorten, in statute, the MU reporting period from one year to 90 days.

“Our hospitals and medical professionals work long, unpredictable hours every day to keep us safe and healthy,” Sen. Portman said. “Washington red tape and arbitrary deadlines make their job harder. Our legislation will make it easier to comply with the law, and help them to do their jobs so that patients are provided with the highest quality care.”

Senator Bennet, Representative Ellmers, Dr. Price, Representative Rush, Representative Kind also issued statements and are available in the press release on Senator Portman’s website:
Portman Press Release.

This legislation is supported by a long list of medical societies including American Academy of Dermatology Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Mohs Surgery, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Rheumatology, the American College of Surgeons, the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Urological Association, America’s Essential Hospitals, the Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems, Cardiology Advocacy Alliance, the Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons, the Federation of American Hospitals, the Heart Rhythm Society, the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the Medical Group Management Association, the National Association of Spine Specialists, the National Rural Health Association, the Oncology Nursing Society, Premier, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, United Surgical Partners International, and others.

Editor’s Note: Subsequent to the publication of this article, CMS has renamed the “Meaningful Use” programs and MIPS “Advancing Care Information” category to “Promoting Interoperability”.

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