Certified EHR Technology

In order to efficiently capture and share patient data, health care providers need certified electronic health record (EHR) technology (CEHRT) that stores data in a structured format. Structured data allows health care providers to easily retrieve and transfer patient information and use the EHR in ways that can aid patient care.

CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) have established standards and other criteria for structured data that EHRs must meet to qualify for use in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program.

For calendar year (CY) 2022, in order to be considered a meaningful user and avoid a downward payment adjustment, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) may use (1) existing 2015 Edition certification criteria, (2) the 2015 Edition Cures Update criteria, or (3) a combination of the two in order to meet the CEHRT definition, as finalized in the CY 2021 PFS final rule (85 FR 84818 through 84828).

The CEHRT functionality must be in place by the first day of the EHR reporting period and the product must be certified by ONC by the last day of the EHR reporting period. The eligible hospital or CAH must be using their selected version’s functionality for the full EHR reporting period.

As a reminder, ONC’s 21^st Century Cures Act Final Rule made several changes to the existing 2015 Edition Health IT Certification Criteria. The following changes constitute the 2015 Edition Cures Update:

• New technical certification criteria to advance interoperability and make it easier for patients to access their own electronic health information on their smartphones.
• New privacy and security certification criteria.
• Revised the standards referenced by several existing 2015 Edition certification criteria, including United States Core Data for Interoperability updates.
• Removed and time-limited several 2015 Edition certification criteria.

To learn more about the 2015 Edition Cures Update, please review ONC's 21st Century Cures Act final rule. To check whether a health IT product has been certified to the 2015 Edition Cures Update criteria, visit the Certified Health IT Product List.

Health care providers participating in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program must attest to certain statements to demonstrate that they have not knowingly and willfully taken action to limit or restrict the compatibility or interoperability of their CEHRT.

Additional Resources

• 2022 CEHRT Fact Sheet (PDF)
• The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s (ONC) 21^st Century Cures Act Final Rule
• Certified Health IT Product List