Chicago-based CCHIT has approved 2009-2010 criteria for certification of ambulatory, inpatient and ED EHRs, and for its newly developed stand-alone e-prescribing certification. CCHIT also approved updated criteria for the ambulatory add-on options in Child Health and Cardiovascular Medicine.
Regarding the opening date for vendor applications to achieve 2009-2010 certification, Leavitt noted, “According to the recently released Program Implementation Plan for ONC, their Draft Rule – which includes standards and certification criteria – must be submitted to HHS by Aug. 26. We will defer launch of our 2009-2010 inspection programs until we have reviewed that material, in order to ensure conformance of this program to ARRA incentive requirements.” The Commission will release the updated Certification Handbook and announce further details regarding application for 2009-2010 certification during June or July.
The commission also will publish “a companion guide mapping the criteria to the characteristics of a qualified EHR as described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).” Those materials will be published on May 29 at www.cchit.org.
According to CCHIT, the Certification Handbook, containing the policies of the Commission’s certification programs, is undergoing a significant revision to take into account the “expanded applicability” of EHR certification under ARRA. Changes will include “a more extensive verification of successful implementation and use of commercial products, as well as piloting of a new program to inspect and certify EHR technologies-in-use that will accommodate a wider variety of development and deployment models.”
The Commission has also formed a sub-committee to research usability measurement.
