Key Links

Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL)

2015 Edition Cures Update Criteria

§ 170.315(b)(10) Electronic Health Information (EHI) Export Fact Sheet

Conditions & Maintenance of Certification

2015 Edition Cures Update – Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) Definition

The 2015 Edition Cures Update Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) definition is a modification to the 2015 Edition Base EHR definition as a result of certification criteria changes adopted by the ONC Cures Act Final Rule. The definition continues to provide a baseline assurance that Certified Health IT that satisfies the Base EHR definition has been developed to possess, at a minimum, a key set of capabilities.

Note for the 2015 Edition Cures Update compliance timeline*, ONC distinguishes current 2015 Edition certification criteria from new and revised criteria on the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) and in program resources.

2015 Edition Cures Update Base EHR Definition – Certification Criteria Required to Satisfy the Definition
Base EHR Capabilities Certification Criteria
Prior to the Final Rule Publication Compliance Date
(Before December 31, 2022)		 Certification Criteria
Final Rule Compliance Date
(On or After December 31, 2022)
Includes patient demographic and clinical health information Demographics § 170.315(a)(5)
Implantable device list § 170.315(a)(14)		 Demographics § 170.315(a)(5)
Implantable device list § 170.315(a)(14)
Capacity to provide clinical decision support Clinical decision support § 170.315(a)(9) Clinical decision support § 170.315(a)(9)
Capacity to support physician order entry Computerized provider order entry § 170.315(a)(1), (2) or (3) Computerized provider order entry § 170.315(a)(1), (2) or (3)
Capacity to capture and query information relevant to health care quality Clinical quality measures – record and export § 170.315(c)(1) Clinical quality measures – record and export § 170.315(c)(1)
Capacity to exchange electronic health information with, and integrate such information from other sources
  • Transitions of care § 170.315(b)(1) or § 170.315(b)(1) (Cures Update)
  • Application access – patient selection § 170.315(g)(7)
  • Application access – data category request § 170.315(g)(8) or Standardized API for patient and population services § 170.315(g)(10)
  • Application access – all data request § 170.315(g)(9) or § 170.315(g)(9) (Cures Update)
  • Direct Project § 170.315(h)(1) or Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM § 170.315(h)(2)
  • Transitions of care § 170.315(b)(1) (Cures Update)
  • Application access – patient selection § 170.315(g)(7)
  • Standardized API for patient and population services § 170.315(g)(10)
  • Application access – all data request § 170.315(g)(9) (Cures Update)
  • Direct Project § 170.315(h)(1) or Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM § 170.315(h)(2)
The requirements of the 2015 Edition Cures Update Base EHR Definition can be met using one Certified Health IT Module or a combination of Certified Health IT Modules.

* In light of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, ONC has updated compliance dates per the Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC), Information Blocking and the ONC Health IT Certification Program: Extension of Compliance Dates and Timeframes in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.