The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced its intent to give health care providers who adopted EHRs in 2011 more time under the Stage 1 meaningful use criteria – all part of the Medicare EHR Incentive Programs. Under the proposal, these providers would report on Stage 1 meaningful use through the end of 2013 before needing to meet the Stage 2 requirements in 2014. Physicians and other eligible professionals have until February 29, 2012 to submit their 2011 meaningful use data to CMS, so if they act quickly they could qualify for incentive payments in 2011 and maintain the ability to qualify for 2012 payments as well.