D.C. Report: Beacons Turn 1, CMS Innovation Center Unveils New Payment Model Pilots

Implementation Workgroup Seeks Comments on EHR Temporary Program. Established nearly one year ago by HHS, the Temporary Certification Program created a process for testing and certifying health information technology. As part of this process, HHS designated six organizations as ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ATCB) with the responsibility to test and certify EHR technology. In planning for Stage 2, the HIT Policy Committee (HITPC) Implementation Workgroup is tasked with examining experiences thus far given nearly 12 months into the program. CHIME Member and HITPC Implementation Workgroup cochair Liz Johnson/Tenet in recent conversations with CHIME’s ALT expressed strong interest in hearing from CIOs regarding their experience acquiring the certified technology necessary for attesting to Meaningful Use. Following analysis of the comments received through the approximately 30-day public comment period, the HITSC Implementation Workgroup intends to make recommendations to the HITSC regarding the EHR Certification Program for Stage 2 meaningful use.

CHIME members are encouraged to respond directly to the HITPC Implementation Group. You may submit your comments either by (1) Using the comment section in the Federal Advisory Committee (FACA) Blog. Comments will be accepted on a rolling basis or (2) Downloading a copy of the survey [DOCX – 18 KB], and emailing the completed survey to ONC.request@hhs.gov. Please be sure to include “Implementation WG Comments” in the subject line. The latter is recommended as the easier alternative. Comments due June 17, 2011, 5:00 p.m. ET.

FAQ on Exchange of Key Clinical Information and Other Topics Posted. For the meaningful use objective, “capability to exchange key clinical information,” how this is accomplished matters, according to the FAQ (10638) released yesterday. As stated in this FAQ, using a USB, CD-ROM, or other physical media is not permitted. Rather, for the purposes of the ‘capability to exchange key clinical information measure’ exchange is defined as electronic transmission and acceptance of key clinical information using the capabilities and standards of certified EHR technology.” Other FAQs posted this week focus on the following: 10639–EP calculations for medications for CPOE if the EP sees patients whose medications are maintained in the medication list by the EP but were not ordered or prescribed by the EP; 10640–Counting of patients in swing beds in the denominators of meaningful use measures for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs); 10641– counting of nursery day patients in the denominators of meaningful use measures for eligible hospitals and CAHs; and 10642–identification of lab tests for inclusion in the denominator of the measure for the “incorporate clinical lab-test results” objective.