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A Final Rule on Permanent Certification Program
On January 3 the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT released a final rule establishing the permanent certification program for the meaningful use incentive program. The rule introduces several significant changes from the temporary program currently in use, including greater separation of powers in approving organizations to test and certify products.
CCHIT Announces Certification Program for Alternative EHRs
CCHIT announces a certification program for self-developed, legacy, or customized hospital electronic health record (EHR) technology. The program presents an additional option to vendor product certification. It's intended to qualify information technology already installed at hospitals as “certified EHR technology. ”
CMS issues correction amendments to meaningful use final rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently issued a correction amendment to address typographical and technical errors identified in the final rule entitled "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program" that appeared in the July 28, 2010 Federal Register. These amendments became effective December 29, 2010.
CMS Publishes Hospital VBP Final Regulation
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Hospital Inpatient Value-Based Purchasing program (Hospital VBP program), under which value-based incentive payments will be made in a fiscal year to hospitals that meet performance standards with respect to a performance period for the fiscal year involved. The program will apply to payments for discharges occurring on or after October 1, 2012. Scoring in the Hospital VBP program will be based on whether a hospital meets or exceeds the performance standards established with respect to the measures. By adopting this program, CMS will reward hospitals based on actual quality performance on measures, rather than simply reporting data for those measures. The regulations are effective on July 1. The regulation will be published in the Federal Register on Friday, May 6.
EHNAC Announces Finalized Criteria for HIE Accreditation Program
The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a non-profit standards development organization and accrediting body, recently announced the adoption of finalized criteria for its Health Information Exchange Accreditation Program (HIEAP).
First ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies Announced
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced the first ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ATCBs) for electronic health record (EHR) technology.
Certification by an ATCB will signify to eligible professionals, hospitals, and critical access hospitals that an EHR technology has the capabilities necessary to support their efforts to meet the goals and objectives of meaningful use.
Health Care Reform and Health IT Stimulus: ARRA and HITECH
AHIMA website dedicated to providing you a central resource center on leading edge information, opportunities, and requirements that will be generated by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law on February 17, 2009 by President Obama.
Interactive REC Map
Sixty-two regional extension centers (RECs) have received funding to help providers implement health IT that meets the criteria of the federal meaningful use incentive program. Find your state’s REC with a new interactive map from AHIMA. Clicking on a state will provide REC name and contact information. Access the map on the Journal of AHIMA Web site.
Meaningful Use - Final Rule Issued by CMS
Outline of the Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program (Meaningful Use) Under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (Title XIII of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) - FINAL RULE
Meaningful Use Rule - AHIMA Overview
AHIMA released a detailed outline of the final rule on the meaningful use EHR incentive program. The guideline describes the content of each section of the 864-page prepublication copy, which the Department of Health and Human Services made available mid-month. In August AHIMA will begin releasing updates to its popular ARRA white paper series reflecting the changes made in the final meaningful use rule as well as the final rule on EHR standards and certification criteria.
Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs
This official web site provides up-to-date, detailed information about the Electronic Health Record (EHR) incentive programs. Includes information about who is eligible for the programs, how to register, and meaningful use.
Nearly $20 Million Awarded to Regional Extension Centers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced nearly $20 million in new technical support assistance to help critical access and rural hospital facilities convert from paper-based medical records to certified electronic health record (EHR) technology.
New ARRA-funded Health IT Programs Open to Students
Health IT classes are under way at 84 community colleges that are using the curriculum developed through the Curriculum Development Centers Program. The program is funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
New Meaningful Use White Papers
Two new papers have been posted to AHIMA’s meaningful use white paper series. Paper 6a offers an overview of the requirements for reporting clinical quality measures for eligible providers. Paper 6b provides an overview of the requirements for hospitals. The papers are part of an ongoing update to the series reflecting publication of the meaningful use final rule.
NHIN Direct to Launch Pilot Testing Soon
The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) will begin pilot testing the NHIN Direct health information exchange standards (HIE) in late December or early January. ONC expects to complete draft specifications this month, and it will then begin work with seven organizations that will exchange health information using NHIN Direct standards and specifications. NHIN Direct, a simplified version of the government-developed Nationwide Health Information Network, will allow healthcare providers to complete simple, secure, one-to-one exchanges of health data over the Internet. The specifications are intended to help providers achieve the level of HIE called for in the first stage of the federal “meaningful use” EHR adoption incentive program.
Ohio Health Policy Review
Published daily by the Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO), this site provides reliable and nonpartisan information and analysis on Ohio health policy issues. It features daily news and information summaries on health issues, along with original analysis and data from the HPIO.
ONC Posts New Regulation FAQs
The Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) recently posted 20 new frequently asked questions to help clarify issues and concerns from the public about the final regulation for certification and standards program issued in July 2010.
ONC Publishes Certified HIT Product Listing for Meaningful Use
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has published the Certified Health IT Product List, a comprehensive listing of complete electronic health records (EHRs) and EHR modules that have been tested and certified under the ONC Temporary Certification Program. The listing will be updated as additional products are certified by ONC-ATCBs and reported to ONC for validation.
Registration for EHR Incentive Programs Starts January 3, 2011
Registration for the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, administered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, begins January 3, 2011. The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs are providing incentive payments to eligible health care professionals and hospitals as they demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology.
States Launch Stimulus Sites
Several states including Ohio have set up stimulus web sites to help residents learn about the federal stimulus law, how stimulus dollars will be spent in individual states, and how the sites will track specific recovery projects.
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