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A Compendium of Perspectives on the HITECH Certification NPRM

Just the Facts 

Certification Programs NPRM (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking)

Health IT, U. S. Department of Health and Human Services; March 2, 2010

Certification NPRM

Facts-At-A-Glance

FAQ

 

Bookmarked version of Certification NPRM (much easier to navigate)

U. S. Department of Health and Human Services; March 2, 2010

Via OCCAM Practice Management blog, March 3, 2010

 

Commentary and Analysis

 

Proposed EHR Certification Rule Changes Game

HDM Breaking News; March 2, 2010

“The rule mentions the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology, but does not grant it any grandfather status…. So, while CCHIT appears to be able to continue its operations under the proposed temporary certification program, its future isn’t clear in the proposed permanent program.”

 

Certification NPRM: A Statement from Alisa Ray, Executive Director, Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT)

EHR Decisions; March 3, 2010

“…we feel confident about our prospects of becoming accredited…. We feel confident about the future, and we look forward to the opportunity to continue playing a role in accelerating the adoption of health IT.

 

 Why Rush Vendor Certification of EHR Technologies?

The Health Care Blog; March 08, 2010

“David Blumenthal and his staff have unveiled two separate plans to test and certify EHR technology products and services. We don’t think this is a good idea…this recently-announced two-stage EHR technology certification plan bears all the marks of a hastily drawn up blueprint that, if rushed into production, could easily collapse of its own bureaucratic weight.”

 

HIT Leaders React to Proposed EHR Testing and Compliance Rule

HealthLeaders Media; March 4, 2010

  • “They got it exactly right.” Simeon Schwartz, MD, president and CEO of WestMed Medical Group.
  • “It’s going to be interesting to see how much the vendors got out ahead of this and how much they’ve hedged their bets” Eric Saff, CIO of John Muir Health
  • “…no matter where you are in the chain of this market, you can in fact certify those modules as opposed to waiting until you meet complete meaningful use to be certified. So I think that’s great. I think that’s really considerate of the ONC.” Luigi Leblanc of Solink

 EHR Certification – Should CCHIT Be “It”?

On Healthcare Technology; March 5, 2010

“I don’t really see the value of engaging in a formal lengthy process just to create temporary bodies of certification…. So why not let CCHIT start working on a temporary basis, while ONC begins the long term accreditation process for all applicants?”

 

Rules for Designating EHR Certification Bodies Now Defined

EHR Bloggers; March 4, 2010

“We certainly applaud the release of the detailed process by which EHR Certification can proceed, and understand the reasoning behind a quick Temporary process, to be followed by a Permanent process down the road. The main concern I would pose is this one: when the doors open up and one or more ONC-ATCBs are designated, there will be a crush of vendors (estimated 180+ different vendors in the EHR space) cramming to get in the door simultaneously, seeking certification.”

 

Proposed EHR Certification Program Won’t Inhibit Innovation, Says Blumenthal

HealthLeaders Media; March 3, 2010

“…the proposed establishment of an EHR certification process would also occur in various phases.

  • The first phase would be a temporary certification process whereby the National Coordinator would approve organizations to test and certify EHRs.
  • The eventual permanent program would transfer testing and certification fully to private sector organizations and separate the two functions.

 “The separation of those two functions is an important aspect, Blumenthal said. It allows certification of not only completed EHRs, but also of individual modules, a move designed to allow architectural innovation.”

 

Certification NPRM Comments

Healthcare Standards blog; March 8, 2010

The Certification NPRM is “remarkably clear and I have only a few comments on the entire proposed rule…. This is one I’m not going to worry about.  If the rule goes final as written, I’ll still be happy with it.  Thanks again NIST!”

 

If Vendor Certification is Uncertain, How Should I Plan?

Everything HITECH; March 4, 2010

“A reasonable guess for the earliest possible for HHS’s designee(s) to start certifying EHR vendors will be sometime this summer (give or take a bit)…. So, here’s the real issue embedded in that certification timetable.  It seems that if some clinical practices could be implemented within a non-certified version of an EHR, it might be valuable to do so!”

 

Open Source and EHR Certification | a Perficient Interview with Brian Ahier

YouTube, March 2010 

…there’s an emphasis in there on certification of open source….the big news out of HIMSS is — we don’t need you stinkin’ vendors”

 

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