On December 7, 2012, CMS published an interim final rule with comment period that updates the Data Element Catalog (DEC) standard and the Quality Reporting Document Architecture (QRDA) Category III standard adopted in a September 4, 2012 final rule. The interim final rule with comment period also revises the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs by adding an alternative measure for the Stage 2 meaningful use objective for hospitals to provide structured electronic laboratory results to ambulatory providers. The regulation also revises regulatory text for measures pertaining to hospitals providing patients with the ability to view online, download, and transmit information about a hospital admission. In addition, the rule addresses the applicability of the case number threshold exemption for clinical quality measure (CQM) reporting to eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals beginning with FY 2013. CMS also announces its intention to issue technical corrections to the electronic specifications for CQMs released October 25, 2012. Certain provisions within the interim final rule are effective January 7, 2013, and comments will be accepted until February 5, 2013.