The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is utilizing a temporary certification program to authorize organizations to test and certify Complete Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and/or EHR Modules, thereby making Certified EHR Technology available prior to the date on which health care providers seeking incentive payments available under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs may begin demonstrating meaningful use of Certified EHR Technology.
ATCBs are those bodies which will be tasked with “certifying” EHRs as meeting the requirements for software that can be used to achieve “meaningful use.”
ONC now estimates there may be as many as five ONC-ATCBs, up from the three estimated in the interim rule and that they will certify ”at most, approximately 205 Complete EHRs and/or EHR Modules under the temporary certification program.” Organizations for ATCB status may start applying July 1, 2010.
FINAL RULE Issued: Temporary Certification Program for Health IT Published in Federal Register on June 24, 2010
AGENCY: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services.
45 CFR Part 170
