Feds may shorten MU reporting period

Federal regulators announced their intention Thursday to ease up on the meaningful use electronic health records (EHR) program, one week after a coalition of 35 medical societies called for major changes. In a blog post, senior Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) official Patrick Conway said the agency is working on "multiple rulemaking tracks" to adjust the program based on provider feedback. "The new rule, expected this spring, would be intended to be responsive to provider concerns about software implementation, information exchange readiness, and other meaningful use related concerns in 2015," wrote Conway, the agency's deputy administrator for innovation and quality.