Another deadline is fast approaching for eligible professionals planning to receive Medicare "Meaningful Use" incentive program payments for 2011. To complete the requisite 90 day reporting period and attest in time to receive payment for 2011, eligible professionals must begin their reporting period by October 3, 2011. For Eligible Providers who have already invested the time and effort to install certified EHR technology and otherwise qualify for the incentive program, but have not yet begun their reporting period, this deadline is a "must make."

The 90 day reporting period is the period in which participating providers must "meaningfully use" certified EHR technology. During this period, they must also ensure that they preserve the data necessary to demonstrate that they met each of the applicable measurements or requirements associated with each meaningful use objective. For stage 1 of the incentive program, attesting providers need only meaningfully use certified EHR technology for a single, continuous 90 day period.