The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has approved the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) as the ONC-AA for the Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology.

[See also: ONC issues final rule for permanent certification program.]

The ONC-AA will accredit organizations to certify electronic health record technology and perform other responsibilities under the Permanent Certification Program. Approval of the ONC-AA is one of the initial steps in the implementation of the Permanent Certification Program, which is anticipated to replace the Temporary Certification Program for Health Information Technology in 2012.

[See also: ONC seeks input on EHR certification.]

For more information about the Permanent Certification Program, please review the final rule entitled "Establishment of the Permanent Certification Program for Health Information Technology" (76 FR 1262, Jan. 7, 2011).