With some standards being dropped and others being added, the Interim Final Rule (IFR) for EHR standards and certification is not aligned with CCHIT's current certification process. If the Final Rule is largely unchanged from the IFR, CCHIT says the new process could slow down the EHR adoption rate.

Given that many systems have been certified under CCHIT, the charges would seem to support the criticism. That said, however, HHS is looking to expand the number of certification bodies. Since those new entities would be starting afresh, following whatever HHS puts out in its Final Rule would not create an issue for them or the EHR vendors that choose go to them for certification.

The other thing to consider is that the IFR for EHR standards and certification is aligned with the meaningful use criteria, which makes obvious sense. Any changes and the final rules will reflect that synergy and alignment.

Back to CCHIT’s situation, the question to ask is how many systems would be truly impacted by the changes. And then multiply that by how many installations of those systems are in the market. My shot-in-the-dark guess would be “enough to create a headache.”

Obviously, HHS is not out to create more barriers. Rather, the department is trying to move the needle. If moving the needle to advance EHR adoption requires a significant market adjustment, the anticipated deceleration will need to be blunted somehow, which is what HHS will need to figure out once the final rules come out. Admittedly, this will be a major task but a necessary one in order to calm the market.