HIT Certification

On June 13, 2010 the US Department of Health and Human Services released the final rules for the EHR Incentive Programs including the certified EHR criteria.  The full rule can be found here and additional information from HHS is available here.   As more details become available, they will be added to this site.

In order to qualify for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, providers must use certified EHR technology. This is a new certification process through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and must be listed on the Certified HIT Product List (CHPL) maintained by ONC. Certified technology must meet or surpass minimum government requirements for security, privacy, and interoperability and will allow the purchaser to attain all of the “meaningful use” measures.

Who is Doing the Certifying

There are several organizations that have been approved by ONC to act as Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ATCB). Currently this includes:

• Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)
• Drummond Group, Inc. (DGI)
• InfoGard Laboratoires, Inc.
• ICSA Labs
• SLI Global Solutions
• Surescripts (EHR modules only, e-prescribing and privacy and security)

It does not matter which organization certifies the product as long as it is an ATCB. More information on the ATCBs is available at http://www.healthit.gov/.

Certified HIT Product List (CHPL)

The Certified HIT Product List (CHPL) is maintained at the federal level by ONC. All certified products appear on this list. Only the product version(s) included on the CHPL are certified. The list can be found at http://www.healthit.gov/, note this link is subject to change but the CHPL will always be available from the ONC’s main page at http://www.healthit.gov/.

Types of Certification

There are three types of certification: complete, module and self. EHR products classified as complete EHR have been certified to meet all the meaningful use objectives and measures. This represents one product or solution that meets all the requirements and, if selected and fully implemented, would meet the incentive program’s certified EHR technology requirement. EHR modules are those technologies that are certified for at least one of the meaningful use objectives and measures. In order to meet the incentive program’s certified EHR technology requirement using modules, a provider must use multiple modules that, together, meet all of the meaningful use objectives and measures. The self certification only applies if the provider does not intend to use a commercial product to meet incentive program’s certified EHR technology requirement. Any provider that intends to use the self certification option should contact ONC at ONC.certification@hhs.gov.

Due to the fact that meaningful use is slightly different between inpatient and ambulatory practice settings, products are identified as Inpatient EHRs or as Ambulatory EHRs. Some products may be certified for both practice settings.

Products are currently only being certified for stage 1 of meaningful use. Later stages of meaningful use will require new certification.

Certification Number and ID

Certified EHR have two certification numbers or IDs. When you register for the EHR incentives you need to use the “CMS EHR Certification ID.” This is different from the ONC number that you may have received. You can receive the correct CMS EHR Certification ID from the Certified Health IT Product List. Instructions are available here.

Proof of Certification

Providers should receive an ONC Certification Number from their EHR vendor. The ONC Certification Number, EHR vendor/company, product, and version will be required for the provider’s registration for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Providers may also be asked by Medicaid for additional proof of EHR technology. This may include proof of purchase (invoice, contract, etc.) that identifies the practice, product(s) being used, and the product version.