CCHIT certifies EHR products for Preliminary ARRA 2011 program
Via Healthcare IT News:
The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology has certified 14 electronic health record products that pass muster for provider use under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
"We believe it will be a challenge for providers who have not yet begun to evaluate products to purchase and implement EHR technology and achieve meaningful use in time for the 2011-2012 incentives," said Alisa Ray, the CCHIT's executive director. "We have received more than 30 applications for our 2011 certification programs – more than half of which are for the comprehensive program – and are announcing new certifications regularly so providers can begin to consider EHR technology that demonstrates compliance with the proposed federal standards."
According to Ray, the Preliminary ARRA 2011 program is a modular, limited certification and inspects technology only against the federal standards. It offers flexibility for health IT companies, developers and providers in meeting ARRA 2011-2012 certification requirements.
The ARRA certification component of both programs is considered preliminary because the definitions of meaningful use, criteria and standards have been proposed but not yet finalized by the Department of Health and Human Services, according to Ray. Health IT companies testing against the proposed standards now will be provided the opportunity to close any gaps after the final rules are published in the Federal Register in spring 2010.
CCHIT has certified the following companies under the Preliminary ARRA 2011 program:
* eHealth Made Easy's eHealth Made Easy 3 for hospitals
* eHealth Made Easy's eHealth Made Easy 3 for eligible providers
* IOS Health Systems' Medios 4.5
* Kaulkin Information Systems' KIS Track 5.1
* NGG Medical Systems' Perfect Care EHR 3.35
* Order Optimizer's Order Optimizer 3.01
* Sajix's iHelix MD 2010
"CCHIT certifies 14 products for meaningful use," Healthcare IT News (December 21, 2009).
