CCHIT Chair Discusses Group?s Future Role, Stimulus Package

In an interview with Modern Healthcare, Mark Leavitt, chair of the Certification Commission for Healthcare IT, discussed CCHIT’s current work and its potential role in developing certification criteria for determining which electronic health record systems will be eligible to receive funding under the economic stimulus law.

Although the federal stimulus law calls for the national coordinator for health IT to identify “a program or programs for the voluntary certification of health IT,” it does not specifically endorse CCHIT.

Because the economic stimulus package includes substantial federal subsidies for health care providers who adopt health IT, CCHIT’s certification criteria seek to ensure that “taxpayers’ money is not being wasted,” Leavitt said. He added, “Certification is basically a protection for the taxpayer.” http://ping.fm/aRTHt