Up to the minute information for your financial success.
In a key step in the adoption of Electronic Health Records, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) recently authorized the first two certification bodies to test and certify EHR systems . . . the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) and Austin, Texas-based Drummond Group, Inc. (DGI).
What does this mean for me . . . ?
The early-bird gets the worm. These are the first two bodies that certify that in-place EHR technologies are capable of meeting the meaningful use requirements—step one on the path to qualifying for your piece of the $64 billion in ARRA incentives for EMR implementation. EHR vendors can now begin to have their products certified as meeting criteria to support meaningful use. Early adopters stand to gain more in incentives from additional years of eligibility; late adopters will receive less in incentive payments or may even be penalized starting in 2015 according to the CMS Implementation Timeline . Having certifying bodies in place makes it possible for early adopters to begin the certification process right away.
Five or six more ONC-ATCBs applications are still under review. ONC says it has reviewed a total of “6 or 7” completed applications out of the 30 they sent out to potential certifying bodies. According to the www.emrandehr.com blog, certification fees for at least one latecomer may be significantly lower—half the price of CCHIT certification, so it may pay to wait until the playing field is a little broader.
Get Started!
To learn more about ARRA EHR incentives and other ways your medical practice can increase its bottom line, read PBN’s June, July, August, and September articles on medical practices going digital . . .
. . . or contact PBN and get started down the digital path today.
PBN Business Development, 800.288.4901,
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About CCHIT
Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) is a volunteer organization that has been working since 2004 and providing its own certifications since 2006. CCHIT offers 3 separate “paths to certification,” including “CCHIT certified” (testing against early expert CCHIT work group criteria), “Preliminary ARRA Certification” (testing against Meaningful Use Stage 1 criteria), and now an “EHR Certification Alternative” (for customized EHR technology, testing against minimum federal standards requirements).
CCHIT plans to officially launch its authorized program September 20th with a “Town Hall Webcast.”
About the Drummond Group
Drummond Group, Inc. (DGI), best known for its interoperability, product life cycle and software testing laboratory services, is the other authorized certification organization. According to the company’s press release, Drummond Group “is fully qualified to meet the needs of EHR meaningful use stage one testing and certification.” They offer a Testing and Certification Guide and online registration to help you get started.
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