On Tuesday, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has decertified two versions of SkyCare 4.2, developed by Platinum Health Information System, Inc., previously certified as products that may be used as part of the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. According to the ONC, two version of Skycare 4.2 has failed ailure to respond and participate in routine surveillance requests by InfoGard Laboratories Inc. (InfoGard), an ONC Authorized Certification Body (ONC-ACB). EHRs must be certified by an ONC-ACB before providers may use them to achieve meaningful use under the EHR Incentive. Providers can no longer use these products to meet the requirements of the EHR Incentive Programs.
“We take our responsibility to provide appropriate oversight of certified EHR products seriously and have every expectation that users will have systems that meet the technological capabilities and requirements adopted by Health and Human Services and will take action accordingly,” said Karen DeSalvo, M.D., M.Sc., M.P.H., national coordinator for Health IT in an official statement.
To date, forty-eight eligible professionals attested to meeting the Stage 1 requirements of the Medicare EHR Incentive Program using SkyCare EHR products. Although these attestations were made while the products were certified, these providers will need to transition to other certified EHR technology products to continue to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. Providers who are currently using the SkyCare EHR products can apply for a hardship exception from the meaningful use payment adjustments under the Medicare EHR program as they transition to new certified EHR technology.
For more information about applying for a hardship exception, providers should visit CMS.gov.
