The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) established a Temporary Certification Program (TCP) for Health Information Technology (Health IT) to provide a way for organizations to become authorized by the National Coordinator to test and certify Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology, thereby making Certified EHR Technology available prior to the date on which health care providers seeking incentive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs may began demonstrating meaningful use of EHR Technology.
ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Bodies (ONC-ATCBs) test and certify EHR technology in the TCP. The Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) provides the authoritative, comprehensive listing of Complete EHRs and EHR Modules certified under the TCP. The CHPL is updated as new products are certified by ONC-ATCBs.
What Certification Means for Health Care Providers
Certification assures health care providers that the EHR technology they adopt includes the capabilities they will need to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. Use of certified EHR technology is a core requirement for health care providers to achieve meaningful use and become eligible for incentive payments under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
What Certification Means for Developers for EHR Technology
The Temporary Certification Program provides a way for developers of EHR technology to have their technology tested and certified so that it can be subsequently adopted by eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and CAHs who seek to achieve meaningful use. To obtain information about certifying your EHR product under the TCP, visit the ONC-ATCBs page.
Sunset of the Temporary Program
The Temporary Certification will sunset once the Permanent Certification Program is determined to be fully constituted by the National Coordinator and becomes operational. The Temporary Certification Program is expected to sunset sometime in summer 2012.
2012/07/31
