The Certification Commission for Health IT has updated its electronic health record certification programs to comply with HHS' Interim Final Rule on standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria for EHRs, Healthcare IT News reports.
Last week, HHS published in the Federal Register the IFR, as well as proposed rules describing how health care providers can demonstrate "meaningful use" of electronic health records to qualify for incentive payments under the 2009 economic stimulus package.
CCHIT Executive Director Alisa Ray said that because the IFR did not contain any "big surprises," CCHIT was able to quickly update its certification programs to conform to the new rules (Manos, Healthcare IT News, 1/20).
Ray said that CCHIT will publish its updated certification criteria soon and will begin accepting certification applications Feb. 12. She also noted that about two dozen vendors who achieved certification under CCHIT's latest programs will be offered incremental testing at no cost to close any gaps (Goedert, Health Data Management, 1/20).