Deadline for Critical Access Hospitals to Submit Hardship Forms is November 30, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) deadline for critical access hospitals (CAHs) to submit a Hardship Exception application for the 2017 payment year is November 30, 2018.

CAHs may be exempt from Medicare penalties if they can show that demonstrating meaningful use would result in a significant hardship. To be considered for an exception (to avoid a payment penalty) health care providers must complete a Hardship Exception application and provide proof of the hardship.

If approved, the hardship exception is valid for only one payment year. Health care providers need to submit a new application for subsequent years and in no case may a health care provider be granted an exception for more than 5 years.

Note: The 2017 CAH Hardship application will affect the 2017 payment penalty and is based on the 2017 EHR reporting period.

For More Information

For more information, please visit the PI Programs website.