CCHIT Public Comment Period Now Open for 2011 Products

The first public comment period for the Certification Commission for Health Information Technology’s (CCHIT) 2011 development cycle is open through December 11. Comments will be accepted on the first draft of criteria for Behavioral Health EHRs—both standalone and as an optional add-on to Comprehensive Ambulatory EHR certification—as well as add-on certifications for Clinical Research and Dermatology. After additional rounds of comment and refinement, these new certification options will be made available to vendors in July 2010. Comments will only be taken through the CCHIT’s Web site at www.cchit.org/participate/public-comment.

“Dedicated volunteers in these specialty care areas have done a remarkable job drafting criteria that will provide more options for our 2011 Comprehensive certification program,” says Mark Leavitt, MD, PhD, chair of the commission. “Our goal is to recognize the diversity of medical practices and specializations that make up healthcare and tailor certification programs accordingly.”

“We have received over 20 applications for our 2011 certification programs, with both the CCHIT Comprehensive and the Preliminary ARRA pathways represented. We will be announcing the first products certified soon,” he adds.

The CCHIT also plans to open public comment from December 14 through January 12, 2010, on the first round of criteria for Long Term and Post Acute Care (LTPAC) EHRs. The first priority for this new domain is development of a core set of criteria for the collection of care settings encompassed in LTPAC and specific criteria for the first two settings—skilled nursing facilities and home health agencies—identified as priorities by the commission’s LTPAC Advisory Task Force. These certification programs are also scheduled for a July 2010 launch.
 
Source: Certification Commission for Health Information Technology