Promoting Interoperability for EHR

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) was enacted to accelerate the adoption of EHRs by offering monetary incentives to eligible providers and hospitals. Promoting Interoperability is defined by the use of certified EHR in a meaningful manner, is connected to improve quality of care; and submit to the Secretary of Health & Human Services (HHS) Information on quality of care and other measures.

CMS recently released a final rule that specifies criteria that eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals (EHs), and critical access hospitals (CAHs) must meet in order to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. The final rule’s provisions encompass 2015 through 2017 (Modified Stage 2) as well as Stage 3 in 2018 and beyond.

Objectives and Measures

• All providers are required to attest to a single set of objectives and measures. This replaces the core and menu structure of previous stages.
• For EPs, there are 10 objectives, and for eligible hospitals and CAHs, there are 9 objectives
• In 2016, all providers must attest to objectives and measures using EHR technology certified to the 2014 Edition. All providers may attest to objectives and measures using EHR technology certified to the 2015 Edition or a combination of the two (if the 2015 Edition is available).

Changes to the Public Health Reporting Objective

Objective 10, Public Health Reporting: In 2016, all EPs must meet two measures, and eligible hospitals and CAHs must meet three measures.

• ADPH will work with vendors and providers after EHR certification is obtained. It is important for providers to select an EHR company that meets HL7 messaging standards and the federally mandated vocabulary standards for Immunization, Electronic Lab Reporting, Syndromic Surveillance, and Cancer.

In order for this process to be effective, the following steps need to occur:

• Vendors obtain EHR certification using the Office of National Coordinator's (ONC) process.
• Vendors and providers must register for Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability with ADPH through ADPH's Security Portal website (ADPH Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Application).
• New Security Portal Users will receive an email after completing the initial Security Portal registration to validate their email address. Once logged back into the ADPH Security Portal, Users will select "ADPH Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Application" and complete the "Organization Info" on the Home page. Under "What kind of Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Data are you interested in transmitting?" Users will select a data type. This selection indicates which program or data type is being registered for in the Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Application. Once the "Organization Info" is completed, Users will select "Add Registration". This completes the registration of intent requirement for Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability with Public Health. Users will receive another email at this point, formally inviting them to engage in Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability activities with ADPH.
• Users will find the specific onboarding requirements and other relevant information for their selected programs in the Meaningful Use/Promoting Interoperability Application.

The Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) is ready to accept Registration of Intent for:

• Immunization Registry
• Electronic Lab Reporting
• Syndromic Surveillance
• Cancer and Electronic Case Reporting
• Prescription Drug Monitoring Program

View our Resources. 

If you have issues with registering, Contact Us.