Medical Practice Management

A Provider Is Required To Use A Certified EHR Technology Under the HITECH Act
To receive incentive dollars under the Medicare or Medicaid HITECH programs, a provider is required by statute to use a certified EHR technology. Authority is granted to the Office of National Coordinator (ONC) to establish certification programs for healthcare IT. On March 10, 2010, the ONC revealed its plan to establish programs for testing and certifying vendors to meet this requirement. The ONC has established a temporary certification body program and will establish a permanent certification program, reporting vendor certifications as either “Complete EHR” solutions or “EHR Module” solutions.

A Temporary Certification Program

The final rule for establishment of a Temporary Certification Program for Health Information was issued by the ONC on June 24, 2010. This rule outlines the process for certification organizations, such as CCHIT, to apply for status as an ONC Authorized Temporary Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). Applications to become an ONC-ATCB were made available in early July and CCHIT has applied to become an ONC-ATCB. The ONC has committed to reviewing submitted applications within 30 days. Barring any deficiencies, the ONC will notify the ATCB applicant of its approval status and the newly appointed ONC-ATCB can begin testing and certifying Complete EHRs and/or EHR Modules. This places the earliest opportunity for granting ONC-ATCB status to CCHIT around midto late-August. With testing of vendors thereafter, certified EHR
technology would be available mid – to late – fall, at the earliest.

SuccessEHS™ has the Highest Level of Certification in the Marketplace

SuccessEHS currently meets and exceeds the federal requirements for meaningful use, as outlined above. This is clearly demonstrated with the approval of SuccessEHS® 5.3, as a fully CCHIT Certified® 2011 Ambulatory EHR with additional certification in Child Health and a 5-star usability rating. SuccessEHS has received the highest level of certification currently available in the marketplace, and the strongest positioning an EHR can have to assure compliance with the meaningful use criteria. CCHIT 2011 testing and certification were performed for compliance with the ONC’s recommended initial criteria for meaningful use in August, 2009, and actually exceed these federal standards. SuccessEHS will be tested and certified with the ONC-ATCB, as a complete EHR, at the earliest opportunity. Additionally, EMB clients can be confident that EMB will continue to maintain its position as an ONC certified Complete EHR technology for Stage 1 meaningful use and all forthcoming stages set forth through future rulemaking.

Certification and SuccessEHS™

• Under HITECH, the ONC must authorize certification bodies, such as CCHIT.
• The ONC established a Temporary Program on June 24, 2010.
• CCHIT has applied to be a certification body.
• The first ONC Authorized Temporary Certification Body (ONC-ATCB) should be announced late this summer.
• SuccessEHS will be tested and certified with the ONC-ATCB, as a complete EHR, at the earliest opportunity.
• SuccessEHS® 5.3, has been approved as a fully CCHIT Certified® 2011 Ambulatory EHR with additional certification in Child Health and a five-star usability rating – the highest certification available today.