EHNAC Releases Updated and Final 2013 Criteria for All Accreditation Programs

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Posted By: Roberta Mullin August 21, 2013

The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a non-profit standards development organization and accrediting body, announced today the adoption of new program criteria, which was revised to address the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Omnibus Rule. All of these accreditation programs support the latest healthcare reform legislative mandates for industry stakeholders.

Following the standard, 60-day public comment period, EHNAC has incorporated feedback to finalize and adopt the enhanced criteria versions for the following programs:

  1. ePAP – e-Prescribing Accreditation Program (V6.5)
  2. EPCSCP-Pharmacy – Electronic Prescription of Controlled Substances Certification Program – Pharmacy Vendor1 (V1.1)
  3. EPCSCP-Prescribing – Electronic Prescription of Controlled Substances Certification Program – Prescribing Vendor1 (V1.1)
  4. FSAP-EHN – Financial Services Accreditation Program for Electronic Health Networks (V2.5)
  5. FSAP-Lockbox – Financial Services Accreditation Program for Lockbox Services (V2.5)
  6. HIEAP – Health Information Exchange Accreditation Program (V1.3)
  7. HNAP-EHN – Healthcare Network Accreditation Program for Electronic Health Networks [Includes Payer] (V10.5)
  8. HNAP-Medical Biller – Healthcare Network Accreditation Program for Medical Billers (V1.4)
  9. HNAP-TPA – Healthcare Network Accreditation Program for Third Party Administrators (V1.4)
  10. MSOAP – Management Service Organization Accreditation Program (V1.3)
  11. OSAP – Outsourced Services Accreditation Program2 (V1.4)
  12. OSAP-HIE – Outsourced Services Accreditation Program for Health Information Exchange Services (V1.3)
  13. DTAAP-HISP (NEW) – Direct Trusted Agent Accreditation Program for Health Information Service Providers (V1.0 )
  14. DTAAP-CA (NEW) – Direct Trusted Agent Accreditation Program for Certificate Authorities (V1.0)
  15. DTAAP-RA (NEW) – Direct Trusted Agent Accreditation Program for Registration Authorities (V1.0)

EHNAC Commissioner and Criteria Committee Chair Mark Gingrich addressed the need for continually updated criteria for data exchange: “As healthcare stakeholders strive to keep pace with emergent reimbursement structures and ongoing regulatory changes, criteria standards must evolve to ensure EHNAC accreditation programs remain ahead of the curve. With enforcement efforts for the new HIPAA Omnibus Rule beginning September 23, 2013, accredited organizations that comply with the new criteria can now assure their customers that their patient’s protected health information (PHI) remains secure and aligns with regulatory requirements.”

EHNAC accreditation recognizes excellence in health information exchange and transactions, and confirms compliance with industry-established standards and healthcare regulatory reform measures. Organizations that apply for accreditation or re-accreditation on or after August 21, 2013 will comply with enhanced criteria standards. Criteria for all EHNAC programs are posted online.

1EHNAC is in the process of applying to the DEA to become an approved EPCS certifier. Until finalized, these programs will be administered exclusively by CISA certified auditors.

2OSAP includes eight different accreditation programs tailored for Call Centers, Data Centers, DRP Facilities, Media Storage, Network Administrators, Printing, Product Development and Scanning.

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 e-prescribing solution providers, electronic health networks, financial services firms, health information exchanges, health information service providers, medical billers, third-party administrators, management service organizations, outsourced service providers, payers, and EPCS vendors.

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, contact info@ehnac.org.