What Does CCHIT EHR Certification Mean For Receiving Financial Incentives Under the ARRA?
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology ("CCHIT"), a non-profit organization that independently certifies health information technology, has put together a preliminary ARRA certification criteria for EHR (pdf) that it believes will meet the requirements for receiving EHR financial incentives available under the ARRA.
Currently, CCHIT is the only Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") recognized certifying body. As such, it will likely determine which EHR software will enable providers to make "meaningful use" of their EHR when HHS publishes the final definition of "meaningful use." When the definition is published, certification will be necessary for providers to receive the financial incentives available under the ARRA.
The preliminary guide focuses on Ambulatory and In Patient EHR, and promises ongoing updates as more information becomes available.
