The CMS is giving hospitals and the vendors of electronic health-records systems more time to comment publicly on a request for information about their readiness to electronically report clinical quality data.

The request for information was first published in the Federal Register on Jan. 3. The original deadline, which was today, has been extended to Feb. 1.

In its request, the CMS announced it was exploring ways in which hospitals might be able to report a subset of the CMS' Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program measures using certified EHRs in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Payment programs.

One of the questions hospitals are asked is: Do hospitals and vendors envision being able to meet the Stage 2 meaningful-use criteria for electronically reporting clinical quality measures?

One of the questions the CMS asks vendors is: Does the vendor intend to have its EHR certified to the 2014 Edition EHR Certification criteria?

An EHR system tested and certified against the 2014 Edition criteria can be used by providers to its meet Stage 2 meaningful-use goals.

Ultimately, according to the CMS, the goal is to develop a single set of electronic specifications for clinical quality measures adopted under multiple quality reporting programs.