The U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has issued a final rule to establish the permanent certification program for health IT.
New features have been added to the permanent certification program, including rules that increase the comprehensiveness, transparency, reliability, and efficiency of the current processes used for certifying electronic health record (EHR) technology, according to the ONC. Meaningful use of "certified EHR technology" is required for eligible healthcare providers to receive funds under the U.S. IT stimulus initiative.
Under the permanent certification program, organizations must first be accredited in order to test and/or certify health information technology. In addition, certification bodies authorized by the National Coordinator (ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies or ONC-ATCBs) are required to conduct postcertification surveillance, according to the ONC. ONC-ATCBs are also permitted to perform "gap certification," ONC said.
For the purposes of the permanent certification program, ONC will request that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) -- through its National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) -- develop a laboratory accreditation program for organizations to be accredited to test health IT.
ONC said that the temporary certification program, which was established through a final rule published on June 24, 2010, will continue to be in effect until it sunsets on December 31, 2011, or at a later date when the processes necessary to operate the permanent certification program are completed.
Related Reading
CCHIT requests comment on certification, November 23, 2010
CCHIT launches EHR certification program, November 11, 2010
CCHIT certifies 33 EHR products, October 4, 2010
ONC clarifies 'meaningful use' certification rules, September 30, 2010
ONC announces certification firms, August 31, 2010
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