One year in, feds seek feedback on EHR program
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT's (ONC) HIT Standards Committee (HITSC) Implementation Workgroup is gathering public comments from now through June 17 on the temporary EHR certification program that supports Stage 1 of the meaningful use program.
The HITSC Implementation Workgroup is collecting feedback on the progress of the EHR product certification program now that it has had certifying EHR technology on Stage 1 meaningful use criteria for almost a year, the HITSC stated. The group is seeking feedback on the process for establishing the ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs), for communicating the testing and certification criteria and for testing and certifying EHR technology, according to an ONC Federal Advisory Committee blog.
Following analysis of the comments received through the approximately 30-day public comment period, the HITSC Implementation Workgroup intends to make recommendations to the HITSC regarding the EHR certification program for Stage 2 meaningful use.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Temporary Certification Program Final Rule in June 2010, establishing certification programs for testing and certifying health IT. The rule established a process through which organizations can become an ONC-ATCB to test and certify EHR technology.
ONC-ATCBs are required to test and certify EHR technology for compliance with the standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of HHS. In collaboration with ONC, the National Institute of Standards and Technology developed the functional and conformance testing requirements, test cases and test tools to support the proposed health IT certification programs. These conformance test methods (test procedures, test data and test tools) help ensure compliance with the meaningful use technical requirements and standards.
Click here to provide feedback via the Federal Advisory Committee Blog. Comments must be submitted prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17.
The HITSC Implementation Workgroup is collecting feedback on the progress of the EHR product certification program now that it has had certifying EHR technology on Stage 1 meaningful use criteria for almost a year, the HITSC stated. The group is seeking feedback on the process for establishing the ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs), for communicating the testing and certification criteria and for testing and certifying EHR technology, according to an ONC Federal Advisory Committee blog.
Following analysis of the comments received through the approximately 30-day public comment period, the HITSC Implementation Workgroup intends to make recommendations to the HITSC regarding the EHR certification program for Stage 2 meaningful use.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Temporary Certification Program Final Rule in June 2010, establishing certification programs for testing and certifying health IT. The rule established a process through which organizations can become an ONC-ATCB to test and certify EHR technology.
ONC-ATCBs are required to test and certify EHR technology for compliance with the standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria adopted by the Secretary of HHS. In collaboration with ONC, the National Institute of Standards and Technology developed the functional and conformance testing requirements, test cases and test tools to support the proposed health IT certification programs. These conformance test methods (test procedures, test data and test tools) help ensure compliance with the meaningful use technical requirements and standards.
Click here to provide feedback via the Federal Advisory Committee Blog. Comments must be submitted prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on June 17.