ONC Announces First Two Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies of EHRs — More to Follow
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced the Drummond Group and the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology as the first two authorized testing and certification bodies (ATCBs) of electronic health record (EHR) technology for the purposes of the meaningful use/EHR incentive program. Additional ATCBs are expected to be announced in the near future.
The role of ATCBs in the meaningful use paradigm is to test and certify EHR products in accordance with ONC's temporary certification program final rule and approved test procedures. This testing and certification process confirms that the products include the various capabilities needed by eligible professionals to participate in the Medicare/Medicaid EHR incentive program.
Industry and self-developers interested in having their products certified as Complete EHRs or EHR Modules must submit their products to an appropriate ATCB. Certification as a Complete EHR means the product covers all criteria needed to be considered “certified EHR technology.” Certification as an EHR Module means the product must be combined with other certified EHR Modules so that the combination addresses all criteria needed to be considered “certified EHR technology.” Ensuring the adequacy of a respective combination of individually certified EHR Modules is the responsibility of the consumer — the combinations themselves do not go through testing/certification. ONC plans to provide an online resource to help consumers verify their combinations adequately meet all criteria. ACR will announce when that online resource is publicly available.
ONC intends to publish its final rule on a permanent certification program around fall 2010, which will eventually replace the temporary certification program — probably in 2012. The permanent certification program final rule will likely separate testing and certification responsibilities and add accreditation.
For more information about meaningful use of certified EHR technology, including the incentive program requirements and EHR certification criteria, standards, and implementation specifications, please access the comprehensive ACR summary below. For meaningful use questions not addressed in the provided materials, please contact Michael Peters, Assistant Director of Regulatory and Legislative Portfolio, ACR Government Relations Department, at mpeters@acr.org or 1-202-223-1670 x4546.
Related Resources
- ACR Meaningful Use Regulatory Summary
- ACR Meaningful Use FAQ
- ONC Temporary Certification Program Final Rule
- ONC Approved Test Procedures (NIST)
- ONC ATCB Home
- CMS EHR Incentive Programs Home
