How A Certified EHR Benefits The Users?
Choosing a certified EHR/EMR offers confidence to healthcare providers that the EHR they are using for their practice is secure, reliable, offers data confidentiality, and is interoperable.
To increase efficiency and share patient data securely, healthcare providers require an EHR that stores data in a structured format. This blog discusses why EHR certification matters and how the practice can ensure that the EHR they use is certified by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC).
What is a Certified EHR/EMR?
Being certified as CEHRT by ONC means that the EHR meets standards for interoperability, functionality, and security.
These standards support the CMS Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program, which encourages healthcare providers to use systems that improve patient care and data sharing.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) establishes the certification requirements based on standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria.
According to CMS, EHR Certification ensures that patients and healthcare providers maintain confidentiality and share data securely with other platforms. However, ONC doesn’t test systems directly. It evaluates other organizations and authorizes them to offer certifications to EMR software.
ONC has authorized ONC–Authorized Testing Laboratories (ONC-ATLs) to accredit and oversee testing laboratories participating in the ONC Health IT Certification Program.
On the other hand, ONC-Authorized Certification Bodies (ONC-ACBs) are authorized to make certification decisions. Once certified, ONC-ACB is required to ensure continued conformity of certified health IT, which can include surveillance.
Furthermore, ONC-ACBs work closely with developers to ensure post-certification requirements like mandatory disclosures, surveillance, and records of updates made.
Why Certification Matters?
Certified EHR technology assists medical practices in improving clinical outcomes with the help of Meaningful Use (MU). With an EHR certification, providers ensure that their records adhere to requirements for HIPAA and MU. However, physicians not participating in the MU receive reduced Medicare reimbursements. To avoid the penalty, they are required to use Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) through an attestation process.
Key Certification Criteria & Standards
The Health IT Certification Program by ONC is composed of several functional requirements, which are called ‘certification criteria’. Developers must attest and demonstrate conformance to these certification criteria to get the certification. The ONC authorizes independent testing laboratories and certification bodies to verify compliance. The eight main categories established in the 2015 Edition Health IT Certification Criteria are:
- Clinical Processes
- Care Coordination
- Clinical Quality Measurement
- Privacy and Security
- Patient Engagement
- Public Health
- Health IT Design and Performance
- Electronic Exchange
Benefits Of Using A Certified EHR/EMR
There are several benefits to using a certified EHR/EMR for both healthcare providers and patients. A few of these are listed below:
Reimbursements
Eligible Professionals (EPs) participating in various programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, and the Quality Payment Program, must use a CEHRT to avoid penalties. EPs not using the certified EHR for at least 180 days may face a 9% downward payment adjustment and will lose valuable points to their Medicare reimbursements. Additionally, several diagnostic tests and a limited number of other services may get separate payments for professional and technical components.
Better Patient Experience
In addition to protecting patient rights under HIPAA, EHR systems offer patient engagement. EHR certification helps patients by making access to information easier with the help of smartphones. Patients can stay informed of their health status and treatment plans. Moreover, interoperability enables safer treatment and leads to better outcomes.
Patient Data Security
The HHS Department proposed adding encryption to authentication credentials for patient data security. To have access to confidential patient data, the HHS Department proposed Multi Factor Authentication (MFA), where users will use more than one way to confirm they are who they claim to be. Some features that protect the security of patient data are audit trails, access control tools, and password protection.
Interoperability
Health systems can communicate and exchange patient data more efficiently by adopting the DS4P criteria in accordance with HITPC recommendations. This ensures that sensitive health information can be shared appropriately while maintaining EMR interoperability between different health systems. Using security tagging applies disclosure policies from patients, laws, or organizations in a way that allows sensitive health information to be shared securely and effectively.
Regulatory And Incentive Context
The EHR Incentive Program offers incentives to certain healthcare providers who use EHR in ways to positively impact and enhance patient care. CMS clearly states that the Incentive Program is not a reimbursement program to replace or purchase the EHR. Every eligible healthcare provider must meet the 13 core objectives to receive the EHR incentive payment, which are:
- Computerized provider order entry (CPOE)
- Drug-drug and drug-allergy checks
- Maintain an up-to-date problem list of current and active diagnoses
- E-Prescribing (eRx)
- Maintain an active medication allergy list
- Record demographics
- Record and chart changes in vital signs
- Record smoking status for patients 13 years or older
- Implement clinical decision support
- Allow patients to view, download, and share their health information online
- Provide clinical summaries for patients for each office visit
- Protect electronic health information
How To Verify EHR Certification?
To verify certification, healthcare providers can refer to the Certified Health IT Product List. By using the advanced search option and clicking on certification criteria, practices verify the EHR’s certification status. If healthcare providers cannot find the name of the EHR in the list, they can contact the vendor to ask if they are using the certified EHR/EMR.
Certified EHR As The Minimum Standard
EHR certification helps providers in offering coordinated care and safe information sharing, while ensuring the system meets requirements for interoperability, functionality, and security. Once an EHR is certified, EPs can participate in the incentive programs established by the state, one of which is CMS’s Promoting Interoperability Program. Investing time in verifying certification fosters a more reliable healthcare environment for healthcare providers and patients.
