ONC Health IT Certification Program Updates
ONC Health IT Certification Program Updates
*Important Deadline Coming Up: December 31, 2022
The Promoting Interoperability Program started in 2011 with requiring certain clinical data be captured electronically, which including providing functionality so that patients could receive electronic copies of their health records (Stage 1). In Stage 2, there was a requirement to provide Meaningful Use of an Electronic Health Record…requiring certification of the EHR system (CEHRT…Certified Electronic Health Record Technology). We are now in Stage 3 which focuses on the use of CEHRT to improve health outcomes. (2022 Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program Requirements)
In order to promote interoperability amongst health IT technologies, the 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule requires that certified Health IT technology provide certain functionality. Certified Health IT Developers have until December 31, 2022, to update and provide to their customers, certified modules/products that meet the requirements, including:
- § 170.315(b)(1): Transitions of Care
- § 170.315(b)(2): Clinical Information Reconciliation and Incorporation
- § 170.315(b)(9): Care Plan
- § 170.315(e)(1): View, Download, and Transmit 3rd Party
- § 170.315(f)(5): Transmission to Public Health Agencies-Electronic Case Reporting
- § 170.315(g)(6): Consolidated CDA Creation Performance
- § 170.315(g)(9): Application Access-All Data Request
Certified Health IT Developers must also attest whether or not they have met the new privacy and security certification criteria:
- § 170.315(d)(12) Encrypt authentication credentials
- § 170.315(d)(13) Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
According to the ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology), “Certified Health IT Developers who have not updated their product(s) and provided them to their customers by December 31, 2022, will be considered non-compliant with the ONC Health IT Certification Program requirements and subject to ONC Direct Review. Developers who fail to provide their clients with updated technology by this deadline could have their product(s) terminated from the Certification Program and/or be placed under a certification ban if the non-compliance is not corrected.”
If your CEHRT vendor has not already updated your electronic health record system, reach out and confirm that they are on track to have the system updated and available to you by December 31, 2022.