Modern EHRs and “CEHRT”
Electronic health records (EHRs) and their role in modern health care are inescapable today. But have you ever stopped to ask: Is my EHR certified? And more importantly, why does that matter?
As any EHR user knows, not all EHRs are created equal. A little-known differentiator is that some systems are Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT), while a growing number of newer systems are not. If you’ve never heard of CEHRT, you’re not alone—but understanding what it means and why it matters could be the key to improving your practice, protecting your patients, and staying ahead in an increasingly complex health care landscape.
So, what does it mean to be “CEHRTified”?
What does CEHRT certification mean for primary care?
CEHRT certification, or “CEHRTification,” means that an EHR system has been officially recognized as Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC). This rigorous process helps ensure the EHR meets federal standards for security, interoperability, and specific types of functionality. These features are not only essential for effective primary care, but they also protect practices from risks associated with information-blocking penalties, HIPAA violations, and operational inefficiencies.
Any EHR that has CEHRT certification guarantees five key attributes:
- Facilitates interoperability: The EHR can seamlessly and securely share data between clinicians, patients, and other entities, ensuring continuity of care and leading to better clinical decision-making. This helps reduce unnecessary services and improves operating efficiencies. Interoperability is essential for all versions of primary care, regardless of payment or delivery model, since care coordination is a key feature of the work of primary care.
- Supports core functionalities: The system includes features like e-prescribing, clinical decision support, and quality reporting, which are essential for primary care workflows. For practices that bill insurance, quality reporting through electronic clinical quality measures is often mandatory and a missed opportunity for additional revenue if not performed. But in any payment model, e-prescribing and support in clinical decision-making are foundational to twenty-first-century high-value primary care.
- Ensures security and privacy: The EHR meets strict HIPAA standards for protecting patient data, including encryption and secure user authentication. While there may be a few exceptions where HIPAA does not apply, all health care providers are ethically obligated to protect patient information, which has become increasingly difficult in today’s digital climate.
- Aligns with federal programs: Practices that participate in programs like Medicare and Medicaid Promoting Interoperability and MIPS (Merit-Based Incentive Payment System) are required to use CEHRTified technology for participation. Practices that fail to meet these requirements risk losing out on valuable incentives or may face financial penalties.
- Supports value-based payment: Value-based payment models, which reward practices for improving patient outcomes, rely on data-driven insights. CEHRTified EHRs include tools for quality reporting, population health management, and patient engagement, helping primary care practices succeed in these programs, but they are also useful for high-value primary care in any payment model.
CEHRT certification is non-negotiable
Primary care is the cornerstone of patient health and wellness. It is where relationships are built, chronic conditions are managed, and preventive care is delivered. However, the effectiveness of primary care hinges on the tools and systems that support it, and the EHR can make all the difference. CEHRT certification isn’t just a technical requirement—it’s a commitment to better care, stronger security, and a more efficient practice.
The ONC maintains a searchable database of CEHRT-certified products. To find out whether your EHR is CEHRT-certified, visit the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) website.
Sara Pastoor is a family physician.
