Corrections Made on Proposed 2015 Edition MU Rule
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has made corrections to its proposed rule for the voluntary 2015 Edition of electronic health record technology certification criteria. In a March 19 Federal Register notice, ONC’s Federal Policy Division Director Steven Posnack corrected the preamble text and gap certification table for four certification criteria that were omitted and provides information on inactive web links that appear in the proposed rule.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has made corrections to its proposed rule for the voluntary 2015 Edition of electronic health record technology certification criteria. In a March 19 Federal Register proposed rule, ONC's Federal Policy Division Director Steven Posnack corrected the preamble text and gap certification table for four certification criteria that were omitted and provides information on inactive web links that appear in the proposed rule.
"These errors are identified and corrected in this correction notice," stated Posnack.
The proposed rule was originally published on February 26. The 2015 Edition certification criteria proposals fall into four general categories: clarifying revisions, standards updates, restructuring, and new certification criteria proposals. Among other provisions, the rule proposes: new certification criteria on functionality to support patient population filtering of clinical quality measures; improved interoperability exchange for transitions of care and clinical decision support; and a path for certification of non-Meaningful Use EHR technology.
Because 2015 Edition compliance is voluntary, EHR developers with systems certified to the 2014 Edition would not need to re-certify for customers to participate. In addition, healthcare providers eligible to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs would not need to upgrade to EHR technology certified to 2015 edition to have technology that meets the Certified EHR Technology definition.
In the future, incremental rules would be voluntary, ONC indicated in its proposal. As part of the proposed rule, ONC intends to update certification criteria editions every 12 to 18 months in order to provide smaller, more incremental regulatory changes and policy proposals.
ONC will accept comments to the proposed rule through April 28. The final rule is expected to be out this summer.
"These errors are identified and corrected in this correction notice," stated Posnack.
The proposed rule was originally published on February 26. The 2015 Edition certification criteria proposals fall into four general categories: clarifying revisions, standards updates, restructuring, and new certification criteria proposals. Among other provisions, the rule proposes: new certification criteria on functionality to support patient population filtering of clinical quality measures; improved interoperability exchange for transitions of care and clinical decision support; and a path for certification of non-Meaningful Use EHR technology.
Because 2015 Edition compliance is voluntary, EHR developers with systems certified to the 2014 Edition would not need to re-certify for customers to participate. In addition, healthcare providers eligible to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs would not need to upgrade to EHR technology certified to 2015 edition to have technology that meets the Certified EHR Technology definition.
In the future, incremental rules would be voluntary, ONC indicated in its proposal. As part of the proposed rule, ONC intends to update certification criteria editions every 12 to 18 months in order to provide smaller, more incremental regulatory changes and policy proposals.
ONC will accept comments to the proposed rule through April 28. The final rule is expected to be out this summer.