Changes to Patient Electronic Access Objective
For 2018, there have been significant changes to how the Patient Electronic Access objective measure will be calculated for the MIPS and Meaningful Use Stage 3 programs. For the MIPS program using the 2018 Transition measures, providers will be given credit when patients are provided online access within 4 days. For MIPS program using the 2018 measures, providers will be given credit once patients are provided online access within 4 days and API access has been granted. For Meaningful Use Stage 3 program, providers will be given credit once patients are provided online access within 48 hours and API access has been granted.
The following provides detailed information on how the Patient Electronic Access works for each program for the 2018 reporting year.
MIPS (2018 TRANSITION MEASURES):
Clinicians must provide online access to their health information within 4 DAYS where the Patient Access button is either yellow or green (the patient has PatientPortal access) and the note is signed within 4 DAYS of the note being created and saved, or a lab/result is imported.
To obtain numerator credit the above must be achieved every time the patient is seen (where a note is created or a lab/result is imported) during the reporting period. If there is one instance where patient did not receive online access, then they can never get numerator credit for that patient for the reporting period.
MIPS (2018 MEASURES):
Clinicians must provide online access to their health information within 4 DAYS where the Patient Access button is either yellow or green (the patient has PatientPortal access), AND API Access has been granted, and the note is signed within 4 DAYS of the note being created and saved, or a lab/result is imported.
To obtain numerator credit the above must be achieved each and every time. If there is one instance where patient did not receive online access then they can never get numerator credit for that patient for the reporting period.
MEANINGFUL USE STAGE 3:
EPs must provide online access to their health information within 48 HOURS where the Patient Access button is either yellow or green (the patient has PatientPortal access), AND API Access has been granted, and the note is signed within 48 HOURS of the note being created and saved, or a lab/result is imported.
To obtain numerator credit the above must be achieved every time the patient is seen (where a note is created or a lab/result is imported) during the reporting period. If there is one instance where patient did not receive online access, then they can never get numerator credit for that patient for the reporting period.
Do note that scanned documents ARE NOT included in the numerator count unless a structured data field (e.g., a procedure checklist, allergy widget, etc.) was added to the note in which the scan occurs. Likewise, notes do not have to be signed, you can right-click anywhere in the note, and then select the Send to patient portal option. If that patient is in the denominator (seen during the reporting period), then anything added to their chart except for demographic data, and the aforementioned scans, will be counted and the patient must have access to this health information as outlined above to be included in the numerator count.
WHAT IS API?
API, or Application Programming Interface, is a set of programming protocols established for multiple purposes. APIs may be enabled by a health care provider or provider organization to provide patient with access to their health information through a third-party application. To meet MIPS 2018 and Meaningful Use Stage 3 requirements, for Patient Electronic Access, API access needs to be an option that can be granted for patients.
When API access is granted for a patient, a unique authentication code will be generated for the patient that can be sent to them via email, or printed out. The patient can then use this authentication code with any participating third-party application to view their health information 24 hours a day. Once the code is entered into that third-party application, a request can be sent to your system, and then your system will respond by sending a view-only Transition of Care document (based on that authentication code) to that application for the patient. Each time health data is sent to the PatientPortal, it will also be queued for API Access should a request for that data be made.