CCHIT to launch ARRA certification program next month

The Certification Commission for Health IT (CCHIT) will launch its new certification programs on Oct. 7. In addition to an updated EHR certification program—CCHIT Certified 2011—the organization will offer a modular certification program, called Preliminary ARRA 2011, which is limited to the standards for qualifying EHR technology under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“There is a high risk that providers would not achieve meaningful use to qualify for the ARRA incentives in 2011 and 2012 if they wait until late 2010 to implement certified EHR systems and technologies,” said Mark Leavitt, MD, CCHIT chair.

During a Town Call on Sept. 3, the commission received “feedback on our proposed programs, and a strong indication of interest from health IT companies and developers in applying for timely certification under these programs,” he said.

Results of polling during the Town Call have been published here.

The commission said it has followed and analyzed the emerging recommendations of the health IT advisory committees to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), and “believes there is sufficient information to offer the preliminary ARRA certification now.”

CCHIT said its certification material--including criteria, test scripts and certification policies for both programs--will be published here on Sept. 24. Applications for certification will open online on Oct. 7.

To prepare health IT companies and developers to make their 2011 certified EHR technology available to providers sooner, CCHIT is offering a workshop in the Chicago area on Oct. 1. The purpose of the workshop, "Get Certified 2011," is to orient companies and developers to the new certification process and to use the new certification program tools. More information about the workshop is available now.

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