§170.315(a)(1) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – medications

2015 Edition CCGs
2015 Edition Conformance Method

Version 1.2 Updated on 08-25-2021

Revision History

Version #	Description of Change	Version Date
1.0	Final Test Procedure	01-08-2016
1.1	As of September 21, 2017, Test Procedure has been moved to Attestation/ Developer self-declaration only	09-21-2017
1.2	Changed language from self-declaration to attestation	08-25-2021

Regulation Text

§170.315 (a)(1) Computerized provider order entry—medications—

Enable a user to record, change, and access medication orders.
Optional. Include a “reason for order” field.

Standard(s) Referenced

None

Resource Documents

Resource Document

Revision History

Version #	Description of Change	Version Date
1.0	Final Test Procedure	01-08-2016
1.1	As of September 21, 2017, Test Procedure has been moved to Attestation/ Developer self-declaration only	09-21-2017
1.2	Changed language from self-declaration to attestation	08-25-2021

Regulation Text

Regulation Text

§170.315 (a)(1) Computerized provider order entry—medications—

Enable a user to record, change, and access medication orders.
Optional. Include a “reason for order” field.

Standard(s) Referenced

None

Testing components

Attestation: As of September 21, 2017, the testing approach for this criterion is satisfied by attestation.

The archived version of the Test Procedure is attached below for reference.

System Under Test	ONC-ACB Verification
The health IT developer will attest directly to the ONC-ACB to conformance with the §170.315 (a)(1) Computerized provider order entry—medications requirements.	The ONC-ACB verifies the health IT developer attests conformance to the §170.315 (a)(1) Computerized provider order entry—medications requirements.

Archived Version:

§170.315(a)(1) Test Procedure

Version 1.1 Updated on 06-15-2020

Revision History

Version #	Description of Change	Version Date
1.0	Initial Publication	10-22-2015
1.1	Updated the Security requirements per 21st Century Cures Act.	06-15-2020

Regulation Text

§170.315 (a)(1) Computerized provider order entry—medications—

Enable a user to record, change, and access medication orders.
Optional. Include a “reason for order” field.

Standard(s) Referenced

None

Resource Documents

Resource Document

Revision History

Version #	Description of Change	Version Date
1.0	Initial Publication	10-22-2015
1.1	Updated the Security requirements per 21st Century Cures Act.	06-15-2020

Regulation Text

Regulation Text

§170.315 (a)(1) Computerized provider order entry—medications—

Enable a user to record, change, and access medication orders.
Optional. Include a “reason for order” field.

Standard(s) Referenced

None

Certification Companion Guide: Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – medications

This Certification Companion Guide (CCG) is an informative document designed to assist with health IT product development. The CCG is not a substitute for the 2015 Edition final regulation. It extracts key portions of the rule’s preamble and includes subsequent clarifying interpretations. To access the full context of regulatory intent please consult the 2015 Edition final rule or other included regulatory reference. The CCG is for public use and should not be sold or redistributed.

Link to Final Rule Preamble

Edition Comparision	Gap Certification Eligible	Base EHR Definition	In Scope for CEHRT Definition
Unchanged	No	Included	Yes

Certification Requirements

Privacy and Security: This certification criterion was adopted at § 170.315(a)(1). As a result, an ONC-ACB must ensure that a product presented for certification to a § 170.315(a) “paragraph (a)” criterion includes the privacy and security criteria (adopted in § 170.315(d)) within the overall scope of the certificate issued to the product.

The privacy and security criteria (adopted in § 170.315(d)) do not need to be explicitly tested with this specific paragraph (a) criterion unless it is the only criterion for which certification is requested.
As a general rule, a product presented for certification only needs to be presented once to each applicable privacy and security criterion (adopted in § 170.315(d)) so long as the health IT developer attests that such privacy and security capabilities apply to the full scope of capabilities included in the requested certification. However, exceptions exist for § 170.315(e)(1) “VDT” and (e)(2) “secure messaging,” which are explicitly stated.
§ 170.315(d)(2)(i)(C) is not required if the scope of the Health IT Module does not have end-user device encryption features.

Table for Privacy and Security

If choosing Approach 1:
If choosing Approach 2:
- For each applicable P&S certification criterion not certified for Approach 1, the health IT developer may certify using system documentation which is sufficiently detailed to enable integration such that the Health IT Module has implemented service interfaces the Health IT Module to access external services necessary to meet the requirements of the P&S certification criterion. Please see the 21^st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program Final Rule at 85 FR 25710 for additional clarification.

Design and Performance: The following design and performance certification criteria (adopted in § 170.315(g)) must also be certified in order for the product to be certified.

Safety-enhanced design (§ 170.315(g)(3)) must be explicitly demonstrated for this criterion.
When a single quality management system (QMS) is used, the QMS only needs to be identified once. Otherwise, the QMS’ need to be identified for every capability to which it was applied.
When a single accessibility-centered design standard is used, the standard only needs to be identified once. Otherwise, the accessibility-centered design standards need to be identified for every capability to which they were applied; or, alternatively the developer must state that no accessibility-centered design was used.

Table for Design and Performance

Certification Requirements

Privacy and Security: This certification criterion was adopted at § 170.315(a)(1). As a result, an ONC-ACB must ensure that a product presented for certification to a § 170.315(a) “paragraph (a)” criterion includes the privacy and security criteria (adopted in § 170.315(d)) within the overall scope of the certificate issued to the product.

The privacy and security criteria (adopted in § 170.315(d)) do not need to be explicitly tested with this specific paragraph (a) criterion unless it is the only criterion for which certification is requested.
As a general rule, a product presented for certification only needs to be presented once to each applicable privacy and security criterion (adopted in § 170.315(d)) so long as the health IT developer attests that such privacy and security capabilities apply to the full scope of capabilities included in the requested certification. However, exceptions exist for § 170.315(e)(1) “VDT” and (e)(2) “secure messaging,” which are explicitly stated.
§ 170.315(d)(2)(i)(C) is not required if the scope of the Health IT Module does not have end-user device encryption features.

Design and Performance: The following design and performance certification criteria (adopted in § 170.315(g)) must also be certified in order for the product to be certified.

Safety-enhanced design (§ 170.315(g)(3)) must be explicitly demonstrated for this criterion.
When a single quality management system (QMS) is used, the QMS only needs to be identified once. Otherwise, the QMS’ need to be identified for every capability to which it was applied.
When a single accessibility-centered design standard is used, the standard only needs to be identified once. Otherwise, the accessibility-centered design standards need to be identified for every capability to which they were applied; or, alternatively the developer must state that no accessibility-centered design was used.

Table for Privacy and Security

If choosing Approach 1:
If choosing Approach 2:
- For each applicable P&S certification criterion not certified for Approach 1, the health IT developer may certify using system documentation which is sufficiently detailed to enable integration such that the Health IT Module has implemented service interfaces the Health IT Module to access external services necessary to meet the requirements of the P&S certification criterion. Please see the 21^st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program Final Rule at 85 FR 25710 for additional clarification.

Table for Design and Performance

Technical Explanations and Clarifications

Applies to entire criterion

Clarifications:

There is no standard required for this certification criterion.
To meet the 2015 Edition Base EHR definition, providers must possess technology that has been certified to at least one of the following: § 170.315(a)(1) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – medications, § 170.315(a)(2) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – laboratory, or § 170.315(a)(3) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – diagnostic imaging.

Applies to entire criterion

Clarifications:

There is no standard required for this certification criterion.
To meet the 2015 Edition Base EHR definition, providers must possess technology that has been certified to at least one of the following: § 170.315(a)(1) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – medications, § 170.315(a)(2) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – laboratory, or § 170.315(a)(3) Computerized provider order entry (CPOE) – diagnostic imaging.

Paragraph (a)(1)(i)

Technical outcome – The health IT permits a user to record, change, and access medication orders.

Clarifications:

No standard is required for demonstrating the ability to allow a user to record, change, and access medication orders.
This provision does not focus on the transmission of medication orders, only on the ability of a user to record, change, and access the medication order. [see also 77 FR 54248]

Paragraph (a)(1)(i)

Technical outcome – The health IT permits a user to record, change, and access medication orders.

Clarifications:

No standard is required for demonstrating the ability to allow a user to record, change, and access medication orders.
This provision does not focus on the transmission of medication orders, only on the ability of a user to record, change, and access the medication order. [see also 77 FR 54248]

Paragraph (a)(1)(ii) Optional

Technical outcome – The health IT allows for the user to include a “reason for order.”

Clarifications:

It is not mandatory that the health IT allow a user to include a “reason for order” field, however, it is optional. The developer has the discretion to determine how to implement this optional provision (e.g., free text field or drop-down menu of pre-determined entries).

Paragraph (a)(1)(ii) Optional

Technical outcome – The health IT allows for the user to include a “reason for order.”

Clarifications:

It is not mandatory that the health IT allow a user to include a “reason for order” field, however, it is optional. The developer has the discretion to determine how to implement this optional provision (e.g., free text field or drop-down menu of pre-determined entries).

Open Survey

Content last reviewed on August 25, 2021