Final Rules Published

The CMS and ONC final rules were released last week and published in the federal register yesterday, July 28th. The CMS final rule defines meaningful use and the incentive programs to pay meaningful users of certified EHR systems. The ONC final rule supports the meaningful use definitions with an adopted set of initial standards, implementation specifications, and certification criteria for EHR technology.

Here are the Federal Register links:

Department of Health and Human Services
45 CFR Part 170 – Vol 75, Page 44589
Health Information Technology: Initial Set of Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria for Electronic Health Record Technology; Final Rule

Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
42 CFR Parts 412, 413, 422 et al. – Vol 75, Page 44313
Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Electronic Health Record Incentive Program; Final Rule

The ONC has also released proposed and final rules concerning the Establishment of Certification Programs and have been published in the Federal Register.

Here are the Federal Register links:

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Department of Health and Human Services
45 CFR Part 170 – Vol 75, Page 11327
Proposed Establishment of Certification Programs for Health Information Technology; Proposed Rule

Thursday, June 24, 2010
Department of Health and Human Services
45 CFR Part 170 – Vol 75, Page 36157
Establishment of the Temporary Certification Program for Health Information Technology; Final Rule

And speaking of the Federal Register, check out the new Federal Register 2.0 site, currently a prototype not an official site as of today. The site is asking for feedback and I think they might be getting some good ones. For the current Federal Register site here is the main page.