INDUSTRY NEWS

CCHIT to reopen certification apps, testing on April 7


The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) will adjust its certification programs for EHRs and reopen applications and testing on April 7, according on its announcement at a teleconference last week.

With this re-launch, the commission will separate its CCHIT Certified program from its Preliminary ARRA program. According to the Chicago-based CCHIT, the organization is taking the following steps:
  • Making the CCHIT Certified program independent from the Preliminary ARRA program;
  • Reopening applications and testing under both programs on April 7;
  • Updating their web site to offer clarity about the objectives and status of both programs, especially regarding its uncertain relationship to the government accreditation process; and
  • Preparing for a prompt conversion of the Preliminary ARRA program into an Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC)-accredited ARRA testing and certification program.

Starting April 7, CCHIT will accept applications, continue testing and issue two types of EHR certifications. According to the organization, a product may receive one or both of these certifications:
  • CCHIT Certified: An independently developed certification that includes an inspection of an EHR’s integrated functionality, interoperability and security. This program is intended to serve healthcare providers looking for maximal assurance that a product will meet their complex needs.  As part of this independent evaluation, successful use is verified at live sites and product usability is rated.
  • Preliminary ARRA: A certification program that tests complete EHRs or EHR modules against the Meaningful Use Stage 1 certification criteria in the Interim Final Rule (IFR).

According to CCHIT, the Preliminary ARRA program is designed to demonstrate that a vendor’s product is well prepared to be certified once ONC-accredited testing and certification becomes available, but the final criteria and test procedures are not yet available, nor has CCHIT been accredited yet by ONC.

If those events occur, CCHIT said it will replace the Preliminary ARRA program with a final, ONC-accredited ARRA certification program with vendors with Preliminary ARRA certification undergoing retesting by CCHIT at no additional cost to receive a fully-accredited certification once it is available.

Program materials, including revised program policies, applications, criteria, test scripts and other guidance will be available at on the organization’s web site beginning on April 7, CCHIT stated.

Last updated on March 23, 2010 at 3:39 pm EST