EHNAC Releases 2015 Criteria Versions for Public Review Through Dec. 1

FARMINGTON, Conn., Oct. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC), a non-profit standards development organization and accrediting body for organizations that electronically exchange healthcare data, announced today that it has posted new versions of program criteria for public review. EHNAC seeks interested parties to provide opinions, comments and suggestions for the upgraded 2014 criteria versions that have been developed for each of EHNAC's accreditation programs with regard to the necessity, appropriateness and workability of the criteria versions proposed for adoption.

The open process for adopting criteria will last 60 days, commencing on Oct. 6, 2014 and ending on Dec. 1, 2014. Below is a listing of the 14 affected programs:

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

The EHNAC criteria for each of its accreditation programs sets the foundational requirements for measuring an organization's ability to meet federal and state healthcare reform mandates such as HIPAA, Omnibus, ARRA/HITECH, ACA and other mandates for covered entities and business associates focusing on the areas of privacy, security, confidentiality, best practices, procedures and assets.

Within each of these programs, new criteria has been developed regarding the use of Cloud Service Providers, as well as a range of advancements and updates. Additionally, there were modifications made to the OSAP program for outsourced HIE Technology Providers, as well as significant changes to the DTAAP-HISP program to further qualify HISPs – including the support for DirectTrust's new HISP Policy.

Visit www.ehnac.org for more details or to review the latest EHNAC criteria and submit feedback during this comment period.

¹ EHNAC 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 nine different accreditation programs tailored for Call Centers, Data Centers, DRP Facilities, Health Information Exchange, 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 accountable care organizations, electronic health networks, EPCS vendors, eprescribing solution providers, financial services firms, health information exchanges, health information service providers, management service organizations, medical billers, outsourced service providers, payers, practice management system vendors and third-party administrators.

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, or follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube.