A total of 103 medical professional associations and state societies have signed a letter to CMS Acting Administrator Patrick Conway, MD, and ONC Acting National Coordinator Jon White, MD, asking to delay the implementation of new certified EHR technology.
The new certified EHRs — the 2015 editions — are slated to go into effect in 2018. CMS has already permitted the use of both 2014 and 2015 editions of certified EHRs for the 2017 Quality Payment program and 2017 Meaningful Use program.
Although the ONC released the final 2015 certification requirements more than a year ago, only a few vendors have upgraded their systems, according to the letter. With this barrier in mind, the medical groups — led by the American Medical Association — worry that requiring physicians to upgrade to 2015-certified EHRs by 2018 limits their vendor choice.
Other key concerns include unfair financial penalties under the 2018 Quality Payment and Meaningful Use programs if vendors do not certify their new products in a timely manner, and patient safety issues, should healthcare organizations feel pressured to go through rushed upgrades and installations.
The medical groups are asking to delay implementation of the 2015-certified EHRs until the technology is "widely available." Until then — or at least until January 2019 — the organizations say the use of 2015-certified EHRs should remain voluntary.