Dive Brief:
- The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT has issued a new final rule on the 2014 edition of certification criteria, to be published in the Federal Registrar on September 11.
- The new rule incorporates more flexibility and includes some provisions from the 2015 voluntary certification edition, which the agency previously abandoned. The rule takes into account some alternative approaches suggested via public comment.
- The rule finalizes the extension of Stage 2 through 2016 for some providers and unveils the Stage 3 timeline. Stage 3 begins in 2017 for providers who first became meaningful EHR users in 2011 or 2012.
Dive Insight:
"This final rule reflects ONC's commitment to continually improve the certification program and respond to stakeholder feedback," said Karen DeSalvo, national coordinator for health IT. "It provides more choices for health IT developers and their customers, including new interoperable ways to securely exchange health information. It also serves as a model for ONC to update its rules as technology and standards evolve to support innovation."