The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology is extending the temporary certification program for health IT to summer 2012, according to a notice in the Federal Register.
The temporary certification program, which is designed to make certified electronic health record technology available for eligible professionals and hospitals working towards meaningful use, was originally set to end on Dec. 31. At that time, the temporary program would be replaced by the permanent certification program unless it is not fully constituted, defined by an insufficient number of ONC-Authorized Certification Bodies and accredited testing laboratories to meet market demand.
ONC's consultation with the American National Standards Institute — the current ONC-approved accreditor for the permanent certification program — and the National Institute of Standards and Technology determined that there would not be a sufficient number of ONC-ACBs or accredited testing laboratories until summer 2012. ONC said it needs more time to complete the accreditation of certification bodies and testing laboratories and to review applications of accredited certification bodies.
ONC plans to end the temporary certification program next summer when it issues the final rule on standards and certification criteria for EHR technology needed for meaningful use Stage 2.
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The temporary certification program, which is designed to make certified electronic health record technology available for eligible professionals and hospitals working towards meaningful use, was originally set to end on Dec. 31. At that time, the temporary program would be replaced by the permanent certification program unless it is not fully constituted, defined by an insufficient number of ONC-Authorized Certification Bodies and accredited testing laboratories to meet market demand.
ONC's consultation with the American National Standards Institute — the current ONC-approved accreditor for the permanent certification program — and the National Institute of Standards and Technology determined that there would not be a sufficient number of ONC-ACBs or accredited testing laboratories until summer 2012. ONC said it needs more time to complete the accreditation of certification bodies and testing laboratories and to review applications of accredited certification bodies.
ONC plans to end the temporary certification program next summer when it issues the final rule on standards and certification criteria for EHR technology needed for meaningful use Stage 2.
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