The Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs require the use of certified EHR technology. Standards, implementation specifications and certification criteria for EHR technology have been adopted by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. A provider's EHR technology must be tested and certified by an Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) authorized testing and certification body (ATCB) to qualify for EHR incentive payments.
Even if you are already using EHR technology, it must be tested and certified by an ONC ATCB specifically for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
You do not need to have your certified EHR technology in place to register for the EHR incentive programs. If you do not have EHR technology, at a minimum you will need to demonstrate you are in the process of implementing a system before you can receive an EHR incentive payment. However, you must adopt, implement, upgrade or successfully demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and successfully demonstrate meaningful use of certified EHR technology under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program to continue receiving EHR incentive payments in subsequent years.