​​The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the Medicare deadline for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals to submit electronic clinical quality measure data and/or attest to meaningful use of electronic health records for calendar year 2017 to March 16 at 11:59 p.m. PT. The previous deadline was Feb. 28. "CMS understands that some hospitals and their health information technology vendors need additional time to submit their eCQM data and attest for Medicare EHR Incentive Program requirements," the agency said. "This extension is intended to reduce reporting burden and is part of CMS's continued commitment to ensuring successful data submissions to the Hospital [Inpatient Quality Reporting] and Medicare EHR Incentive Programs." The deadline for hospitals participating in the IQR Program to request an extraordinary circumstances exception for CY 2017 reporting remains April 1.​