Battle of the Network Acronyms

We all know that acronyms are a quick way to reference many companies and government organizations (our personal favorite is, of course, HMS). But trying to wade through a Meaningful Use document containing 15 different acronyms can be challenging. To help you gain a clearer picture of the key players in Meaningful Use implementation, HMS will occasionally blog on the agencies—and their acronyms—that we all should know about.

This week, we’ll showcase the connection between CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology).

CMS set the rules for the “Electronic Health Records Incentive Program,” which evolved into today’s Meaningful Use requirements. Meeting these requirements qualifies an eligible hospital or professional to receive Medicaid incentive payments from CMS.

ONC coordinates the implementation of health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information. ONC is responsible for creating the standards for—and certifying—Electronic Health Records (also known as EHR).

In order to meet the CMS’ Meaningful Use requirements, hospitals and eligible professionals must utilize information technology certified by ONC.

Regularly updated lists of approved providers/products are available on ONC‘s website.