Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology Issues Formal Guidance for Selecting and Negotiating Contracts with Electronic Health Record Vendors
by Teresa Locke, Holland & Hart LLP
On September 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released a practical and straightforward tool to assist health care providers as they select and negotiate the acquisition of an electronic health record system (EHR). The document’s title accurately encapsulates the content of the 53-page guide: “EHR Contracts Untangled: Selecting Wisely, Negotiating Terms, and Understanding the Fine Print.” The guide can be found at https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/EHR_Contracts_Untangled.pdf. The new contract guide explains important concepts in EHR contracts and includes example contract language to help providers and health administrators in planning to acquire an EHR system and negotiating contract terms with vendors. Read more