The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has designated the Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT) as a Recognized Certification Body (RCB). Recent actions by CCHIT include the publishing of two final rules providing an exception to the physician self-referral prohibition (the Stark law) and a safe harbor under the anti-kickback statute. "Broad adoption of health information technology that is interoperable is absolutely crucial to providing patients with better care, at lower cost, and with less hassle," said Michael Leavitt, HHS Secretary. "I applaud the CCHIT for meeting the requirements to become a Recognized Certification Body, and their work to bring the benefits of health IT within reach of consumers."