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TIA’s Comments Address Proposals for 2015 Edition of Electronic Health Record Technology Certification Criteria

Arlington, VA (April 29, 2014) – The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks, submitted comments to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).  The comments address proposals for the 2015 edition of electronic health record (EHR) technology certification criteria which eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals may voluntarily meet in order to qualify for Medicare and/or Medicaid EHR incentive payments.

Among the issues addressed in the TIA filing were:

• TIA generally supports a voluntary implementation approach to easing certification by the issuance of voluntary criteria.

• TIA is encouraged to see several new certification criterion and references throughout the proposed rule that focus on a user’s ability to access, provide and encourage the utilization of patient data in ways that may emphasize connected care – that is the delivery of healthcare in motion, virtually anywhere and at any time.

• TIA is concerned that the proposed regulatory pathway for more frequent certification cycles could be the cause of confusion and create unintended consequences; TIA urged for flexibility by CMS in their evaluations and administration of eligible participant hardship exceptions.

• TIA supports ONC’s proposal to create a new definition and category for Non-Meaningful Use CEHRT, but notes that sections of the proposed rule lack clarity

TIA’s comments are available here.