HHS Extends Temporary EHR Certification Program, Permanent Program Delayed Until Late 2012

On October 28, 2011, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology announced plans to extend its temporary electronic health record (EHR) certification program beyond the sunset date of December 31, 2011. There are not yet enough EHR certification bodies and accredited testing laboratories to establish the permanent program without impairing access to certified EHR technology for hospitals and eligible professionals in the process of adopting an EHR to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR meaningful use incentive programs. The ONC also seeks to dovetail the sunset of . . .