The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has released the 2014 Edition Standards & Certification Criteria Final Rule (pdf).
This final rule accompanies the newly released CMS final rule for stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs and updates the S&CC for stage 1. Specific highlights from the final rule include the following.
• The final rule redefines the meaning of certified EHR technology and introduces more efficient means for certification to permit greater innovation and reduce regulatory burden.
• The final rule adopts vocabulary, content exchange, transport, functional and security standards in certification criteria.
• It also adopts certification criteria for transitions of care that will ensure EHR technology supports standards-based electronic health information exchange.
• The final rule requires that test reports used for EHR technology certification be made publicly available.
• It requires EHR technology developers follow certain price transparency practices related to the types of costs (i.e., one-time, ongoing or both) associated with EHR technology implementation for meaningful use.
• It makes available for the first time "gap certification" for certain certification criteria, which will enable more efficient EHR technology certification.
The final rule also includes requirements for privacy and security, interoperability, data portability, safety and usability, clinical quality measures, reducing regulatory burden and increasing flexibility.
To see the requirements for these areas as well as the updated definition of certified EHR technology, click here (pdf).
AMA Calls Stage 2 Meaningful Use Cumbersome in CMS Comments
CHIME Suggests Changes to CMS Proposed Stage 2 Meaningful Use Rule
This final rule accompanies the newly released CMS final rule for stage 2 of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs and updates the S&CC for stage 1. Specific highlights from the final rule include the following.
• The final rule redefines the meaning of certified EHR technology and introduces more efficient means for certification to permit greater innovation and reduce regulatory burden.
• The final rule adopts vocabulary, content exchange, transport, functional and security standards in certification criteria.
• It also adopts certification criteria for transitions of care that will ensure EHR technology supports standards-based electronic health information exchange.
• The final rule requires that test reports used for EHR technology certification be made publicly available.
• It requires EHR technology developers follow certain price transparency practices related to the types of costs (i.e., one-time, ongoing or both) associated with EHR technology implementation for meaningful use.
• It makes available for the first time "gap certification" for certain certification criteria, which will enable more efficient EHR technology certification.
The final rule also includes requirements for privacy and security, interoperability, data portability, safety and usability, clinical quality measures, reducing regulatory burden and increasing flexibility.
To see the requirements for these areas as well as the updated definition of certified EHR technology, click here (pdf).
More Articles on CMS & ONC Final Rules:
CMS Releases Final Rule for Stage 2 of the EHR Incentive ProgramAMA Calls Stage 2 Meaningful Use Cumbersome in CMS Comments
CHIME Suggests Changes to CMS Proposed Stage 2 Meaningful Use Rule