Assessing the final rule to establish temporary certification: A statement from Karen M. Bell, MD, Chair, CCHIT

CCHIT is pleased that the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has issued the final rule to establish the temporary certification program for electronic health records (EHRs), and we are currently reviewing the rule to determine the impact it has on our plans for a final ARRA certification program.  We will request an application to become an ONC Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) as soon as it is available this week.

We remain confident that CCHIT will be approved as an ONC-ATCB because of our years of experience in this field and our readiness to meet the required accreditation standards.  We originated EHR certification and have tested and certified hundreds of EHRs. This know-how will enable us to promptly adapt our processes to accommodate the separate purposes of certifying EHR technology for eligible providers and hospitals in accordance with the certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and providing additional assurance to a broader range of providers through our independently developed programs.

We expect CCHIT to remain in the forefront of EHR certification and look forward to continue playing a role in accelerating the adoption of health IT by making certified EHR technology available to healthcare providers.