In the ongoing battle against antimicrobial resistance, one of the strongest weapons at our disposal is information. The collection and analysis of data related to the use of antimicrobials and the incidences of resistance are critical for guiding public health strategies and ensuring the effectiveness of treatments.
In this article, we will review how to register your intention to participate in antimicrobial use and resistance (AUR) reporting for the Medicare Promoting Interoperability program. Further information and a list of FAQs that’s periodically updated may be found on the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).
Does CMS require antimicrobial stewardship reporting?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare Promoting Interoperability program imposes financial incentives for hospitals to submit data to the NHSN AUR option by making it a required measure. In 2025, the CMS antibiotic stewardship requirements changed. Antimicrobial use (AU) and antimicrobial resistance (AR) are now considered two separate measures. If your hospital received an exemption because you were unable to provide AR due to unavailability of electronic lab data, you are now required to submit AU to satisfy the requirements of the Promoting Interoperability program.
Hospitals select their electronic health record (EHR) reporting period in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability program, and each year the EHR reporting period is 180 days. In other words, hospitals may select which 180 continuous days to engage and comply with the reporting requirements for the Medicare Promoting Interoperability program. The selection and definition of the EHR reporting period is usually done by the Quality department of most hospitals, and we encourage early and frequent communications as the EHR reporting period determines the relevant dates and corresponding deadlines for your organization.
It is important to note that even for hospitals that were submitting AUR data to NHSN prior to the imposed requirements, hospitals must register their intent to participate to obtain credit for the AU and AR measures.
Registering intent for the NHSN AUR module
To participate in the AUR module for Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program, hospitals must take proactive steps to register their intent. Here's a simplified breakdown of the process:
Identify your reporting capability and select an ONC-certified partner
Before registering, hospitals should assess their ability to collect and report the necessary data. This might involve coordinating with clinical, IT, and pharmacy departments to ensure the infrastructure and procedures for data collection are in place. Data source requirements such as bar-coded medication administration scanning and electronic posting of microbiology results must be satisfied to participate in the AUR reporting program. Hospitals must use an ONC HIT-certified vendor like—Sentri7 AUR Reporting —and its AU and AR-validated software to receive credit for the Medicare Promoting Interoperability program.
