HHS Provides Additional EHR Certification Flexibility

By Christine Kern, contributing writer

New Final Rule Adds Clarity and Improvements Through Optional and Revised Criteria.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a final rule regarding the certification of EHRs that they state provides additional flexibility, clarity, and improvements through optional and revised criteria.

According to a press release, health information technology (HIT) developers, providers, and consumers will have more flexibility through the latest final rule issued by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) at the HHS.

“We listened to stakeholder feedback and provided CEHRT flexibility for 2014 to help ensure providers can continue to participate in the EHR Incentive Programs forward,” said Marilyn Tavenner, CMS administrator. “We were excited to see that there is overwhelming support for this change.”

The final rule adds flexibility as well as clarity and improvements to the current 2014 Edition electronic health record (EHR) certification criteria and the ONC Health IT Certification Program through a new “release” of optional and revised criteria (“2014 Edition Release 2”).

 The certification criteria and program updates included in the 2014 Edition Release 2 final rule were proposed earlier this year. In consideration of public comment received on the proposed rule, the 2014 Edition Release 2 final rule provides alternative certification criteria and approaches for the voluntary certification of heath IT.

 “This final rule reflects ONC’s commitment to continually improve the certification program and respond to stakeholder feedback. It provides more choices for health IT developers and their customers, including new interoperable ways to securely exchange health information. It also serves as a model for ONC to update its rules as technology and standards evolve to support innovation,” said Karen DeSalvo, M.D., M.P.H., M.Sc., national coordinator for health IT.