EHNAC Announces Application Service Provider Accreditation Program for Electronic Health Records (ASPAP-EHR)

Standards development organization seeks candidate application service providers for beta testing of new accreditation program

FARMINGTON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a non-profit standards development organization and accrediting body, announced today the development of a new accreditation program offering for application service providers for electronic health records (EHRs). The Application Service Provider Accreditation Program for Electronic Health Records (ASPAP-EHR) evaluates companies providing ASP-format EHRs against specific criteria covering privacy and confidentiality, technical performance, business processes, resources and security.

“Our overarching goals are to improve transactional quality, operational efficiency and data security throughout all sectors that handle protected health information, and we anticipate our new programs will provide a greater level of confidence to all interacting parties at a time when the spotlight is truly upon them.”

EHNAC hopes to begin beta testing of the new ASPAP-EHR accreditation program this summer and is currently seeking qualified organizations interested in participating as beta testing sites for the ASPAP-EHR program as well as the organization’s health information exchange (HIE) accreditation program. The new programs are scheduled to fully launch in Jan. 2010 after the beta testing process is complete and criteria versions have been adopted. Companies interested in participating in beta testing should visit the EHNAC Web site (www.ehnac.org) to review the draft criteria of the proposed accreditation program and if interested in participating contact EHNAC at [e-mail].

“With the swiftly-emerging legislation developments such as the HITECH Act and the calling for authoritative standards and regulations from various leaders at both the federal and state levels, there is a great sense of urgency for EHNAC to put a strong emphasis on addressing much-needed accreditation standards to ensure compliance and accountability,” says Lee Barrett, executive director of EHNAC. “Our overarching goals are to improve transactional quality, operational efficiency and data security throughout all sectors that handle protected health information, and we anticipate our new programs will provide a greater level of confidence to all interacting parties at a time when the spotlight is truly upon them.”

EHNAC’s Health Information Exchange Accreditation Program (HIEAP) is designed for regional health information organizations (RHIOs), community health data/network partnerships and other groups that promote data sharing across multiple, independent stakeholders. HIEAP will assess the privacy policies, security measures, technical performance, business practices and organizational resources of participating entities.

The draft criteria sets for both programs will be available online at www.ehnac.org for public review. Parties are requested to provide opinions, comments and suggestions of the new program criteria versions proposed for adoption. The comment period will last 60 days, and is expected to commence on Aug. 14, 2009 and ending on Oct. 12, 2009.

About EHNAC

The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC) is a voluntary, self-governing standards development organization (SDO) established to develop standard criteria and accredit organizations that electronically exchange healthcare data. These entities include electronic health networks, payers, financial services firms and e-prescribing solution providers.

EHNAC was founded in 1993 and is a tax-exempt 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization. Guided by peer evaluation, the EHNAC accreditation process promotes quality service, innovation, cooperation and open competition in healthcare. To learn more, visit www.ehnac.org or contact [e-mail].