CCHIT opens modular certification program
By Mary Mosquera
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology said today that vendors and developers can start applying for its new “modular” certification programs that focus on meeting meaningful use requirements in the health IT stimulus law.
With this approach, vendors can apply for certification for electronic health record system modules, such as e-prescribing or electronic patient registries.
The certification program, called Preliminary ARRA 2011, is limited to the standards CCHIT expects will be set for qualifying electronic health records (EHR) systems for meaningful use as spelled out in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the commission said in a release.
A certification label will indicate which of the meaningful use objectives the EHR technology supports. The label will also let providers and hospitals understand which technology product or products in combination can support all the necessary objectives for meaningful use.
The commission said it continues to offer comprehensive EHR system certification, which it updated for anticipated meaningful use criteria. The comprehensive endorsement will maintain the providers who use those systems in good standing through 2011, CCHIT said.
Providers must demonstrate that they are meaningful users of health IT to be eligible for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments under the stimulus. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will publish a proposed rule in December that describes what physicians and hospitals must do to meet meaningful use requirements and to receive increased payments starting in 2011.
