CMS seeks out ‘test EHRs’ for MU Stage 2 objective

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking out multiple “test EHRs” for eligible providers, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals to use if they pursue a second approach to meeting measure three of Meaningful Use (MU) Stage 2’s transitions of care objective.

Under MU Stage 2, entities must either conduct one or more successful electronic exchanges of a summary of care document with a recipient using a different EHR technology than their own or conduct one or more successful tests with a CMS-designated test EHR during the EHR reporting period.

CMS and of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) are identifying a minimum set of technical capabilities required for designation as a tester. All designated test EHRs will register with a software system hosted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which will randomly match providers with a designated test EHR that is different from their own to achieve the Stage 2 objective, according to a CMS agency notice.  

CMS and ONC are urging the EHR technology developer community to participate in the program to become a CMS designated test EHR. More information on eligibility is available here.