Preliminary Health Information Technology Certification Program Underway - September 14, 2009

The Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT), a nonprofit organization recognized by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as an official Health Information Technology (HIT) certification body, will launch a modular certification program called “Preliminary ARRA 2011” on October 7. Although HHS will not issue HIT certification criteria or standards until the end of 2009 and will not issue a definition of "meaningful use" until 2010, CCHIT is moving forward with the preliminary certification program to ensure there are certified HIT vendors available to assist providers to qualify for the HIT incentives authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in 2011 and 2012. Information about Preliminary ARRA 2011 and an updated electronic health record certification program (CCHIT Certified® 2011) will be available online September 24.