A Message from Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology 

June 18, 2010

Like many innovations, the advent of health information technology has introduced its own vocabulary. As a practicing primary care physician, I can attest that terms like electronic health records, EHRs, certified EHR technology, and meaningful use are not typically used around most doctors’ offices and hospitals. However, as our nation moves towards a more technologically advanced system to improve health care, perhaps it’s time for us to make these words a part of our vocabulary.  The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is dedicated to helping you understand health IT concepts and what they mean for you. 

The terms certified EHR technology and meaningful use both got their start in the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The HITECH Act provides funds to help health care providers and hospitals adopt health IT to improve the safety, quality, and efficiency of health care in this country. Authority was given to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to imp lent incentive programs to promote the meaningful use of certified EHR technology by health care providers, hospitals, and other qualified health professionals.

Today, to support HITECH goals and promote the use of health IT, the Secretary of Health and Human Services published the temporary certification program final rule, which establishes the process by which an organization may become an ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ONC-ATCB). An ONC-ATCB is authorized by the National Coordinator to test and certify EHR technology under the HHS program.  The rule is the first step in ONC’s mission to make certified EHR technology available in time for health care providers and hospitals to begin demonstrating meaningful use.

I strongly encourage all qualified organizations to apply to ONC for authorization to be testing and certifying bodies as outlined in the rule. ONC will not restrict the number of applicants or limit the number of ATCBs that are authorized. The more qualified, authorized organizations there are serving the marketplace, the more options will exist for testing and certifying EHR technology under the temporary certification program.

For health care providers and hospitals seeking to qualify for payments under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs, this certification means that you will have a way to help ensure that the EHR product you choose can meet your needs.

For health IT developers and vendors, the temporary certification program provides the way to have EHR technology tested and certified as soon as possible.

To conclude, I would like to pledge again ONC’s commitment to helping providers adopt health IT for the benefit of their patients. Our other HITECH programs, particularly the Regional Extension Centers, are there to support providers as they implement and meaningfully use certified EHRs. 

For more on the temporary certification program, please visit healthIT.hhs.gov/certification.

Sincerely,

David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourages you to share this information as we work together to enhance the quality, safety and value of care and the health of all Americans through the use of electronic health records and health information technology.

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