The EHR Association penned a letter Nov. 20 in response to CMS Administrator Seema Verma's request for feedback on a "new direction" for the agency's innovation center in September.
The association wrote health IT will likely play a foundational role in delivery system reform and the healthcare industry's transition to value-based care. As health IT takes on this greater role in the healthcare industry, providers will need access to these capabilities to participate in new payment models.
"In preparation for these changes and throughout the development of new models, the association encourages CMS to collaboratively engage with health IT developers to ensure that the technology we are delivering to providers aligns with the needs of the models," the letter reads.
As one solution, EHRA officials suggested CMS align technical needs for various payment models into the certified EHR technology program to reduce the burden placed on vendors that are currently asked to continuously develop new features to align their products with various programs.
"One way to facilitate this is to harmonize the technology requirements of new payment models with the requirements related to certified EHR technology already incorporated into other programs, such as Advanced Alternative Payment Models and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System," the EHRA recommended.
To access the EHRA's letter, click here.