ONC Health IT Certification Program - Updated Test Procedures and Companion Guides - 28Oct16
For October 2016, ONC updated the following test procedure, companion guides, test tools and other aspects related to their 2015 Edition testing program. Summary of changes and commentary of potential impact to developers as determined by Chart Lux staff are included. Links to the ONC test procedure and companion guides are here: https://www.healthit.gov/policy-researchers-implementers/2015-edition-test-method
TEST PROCEDURE
§ 170.315(f)(1): Transmission to Immunizations Registries
Summary of Change:
Corrected a bad link to the test tool process hosted on the NIST immunization test tool site.
Impact and Commentary:
Minor. Just a URL location update.
§ 170.315(f)(7): Transmission to Public Health Agencies – Health Care Surveys
Summary of Change:
Added a link to the NHCS test tool user guide.
Impact and Commentary:
Minor. However, currently the link added actually points to the 315.f.7 Companion Guide rather than the actual NHCS Test Tool user guide (ONC will likely be correcting this soon). However, you can find the correct link on the test tool site itself (http://cda-validation.nist.gov/cda-validation/muNHCS.html) or directly here: http://cda-validation.nist.gov/cda-validation/downloads/NCHSTestToolUserGuide.doc
COMPANION GUIDES
§ 170.315(g)(1): Automated Numerator Recording
§ 170.315(g)(2): Automated Measure Calculation
Summary of Change:
Added guidance and clarification on calculations, specifically from the new MIPS ruling.
Impact and Commentary:
Moderate. Mostly general comments and restating some aspects of reporting changed by MIPS, like with group reporting. There is a good clarification at the end on dealing with test data which impacts e.1 (VDT) and/or g.7-g.9 (API).
§ 170.315(h)(1): Direct Project
§ 170.315(h)(2): Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM
Summary of Change:
Added HISP guidance in regards to sending dispatched MDNs in production.
Impact and Commentary:
Moderate. Dispatched MDNs are something new being tested in 2015 Edition, and there has been some confusion from HISPs on how ONC was expecting them to be tested. Below is the clarification ONC has added in the companion guide.
Consistent with the Implementation Guide for Delivery Notification in Direct, ONC's policy intent is that the receiving HISP must provide delivery notification messages either when it is also the sending HISP, or when it is specifically requested to do so by the sending HISP. A HISP is not compelled to request delivery notifications, but a certified HISP is required to produce them if requested.
§ 170.315(f)(1): Transmission to Immunizations Registries
Corrected a bad link to the test tool process hosted on the NIST immunization test tool site.
Impact and Commentary:
Minor. Just a URL location update.
§ 170.315(f)(2): Transmission to Public Health Agencies – Syndromic Surveillance
Corrected a bad link to the test tool process hosted on the NIST immunization test tool site.
Impact and Commentary:
Minor. Just a URL location update.
