According to a report from Bloomberg, the final rule on Stage 2 of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)’ Electronic Health Records (EHRs) incentive program is slated to be released in early September. Citing a CMS official, Bloomberg says this was revealed during a webinar recently that was co-sponsored by CMS and the Professional Association of Health Care Office Management.

The proposed rule for Stage 2 of meaningful use was released in early March.  The feedback period featured concerns from providers about the number of clinical quality measures, and the requirement that 10 percent of patients “seen by the EP during the EHR reporting period (or their authorized representatives) view, download or transmit to a third party their health information.”

Along with news on the release of the Stage 2 final rule, the Bloomberg story cited a specialist within CMS 's Office of E-Health Standards and Services, Robert Anthony, who said moving forward CMS will audit providers participating in the meaningful use incentive program. The majority, he said, would be desk audits.