Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) Definition

The Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) definition provides a baseline assurance that certified health IT has been developed to possess, at a minimum, a key set of capabilities as outlined below.

Please note: Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT) is defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and required for participation in certain CMS programs. CEHRT includes, at a minimum, the capabilities outlined in the Base EHR Definition. Additional certified functionality may also be necessary to meet program-specific objectives, measures, or reporting requirements. Participants should confirm CEHRT requirements for their applicable program and reporting year. For questions about CMS program requirements, please visit the QualityNet Question and Answer Site at https://cmsqualitysupport.servicenowservices.com/qnet_qa?id=ask_a_question.

Base EHR Definition – Certification Criteria Required to Satisfy the Definition*

Base EHR Capabilities

Certification Criteria (CY2025)

Certification Criteria (CY2026)

Includes patient demographic and clinical health information

Demographics § 170.315(a)(5) (update required by December 31, 2025)
Implantable device list § 170.315(a)(14)

Demographics § 170.315(a)(5) (updated as of January 1, 2026)
Implantable device list § 170.315(a)(14)

Capacity to provide clinical decision support

Decision support interventions § 170.315(b)(11) (update required by December 31, 2027)

Decision support interventions § 170.315(b)(11) (update required by December 31, 2027)

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) (update required by December 31, 2025)
  • Application access – patient selection § 170.315(g)(7)
  • Application access – all data request § 170.315(g)(9) (update required by December 31, 2025)
  • Standardized API for patient and population services § 170.315(g)(10)
  • 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) (updated as of January 1, 2026)
  • Application access – patient selection § 170.315(g)(7)
  • Application access – all data request § 170.315(g)(9) (updated as of January 1, 2026)
  • Standardized API for patient and population services § 170.315(g)(10)
  • Direct Project § 170.315(h)(1) or Direct Project, Edge Protocol, and XDR/XDM § 170.315(h)(2)

Capacity to support real-time prescription benefit information

  • Real-time prescription benefit § 170.315(b)(4) (required as of January 1, 2028)
  • Real-time prescription benefit § 170.315(b)(4) (required as of January 1, 2028)

The requirements of the Base EHR Definition can be met using one Certified Health IT Module or a combination of Certified Health IT Modules.

*For more information on certification criteria updates and deadlines, please refer to the Criteria Updates by Regulatory Deadline.