Not all electronic medical records (EMRs) are the same. Only some meet the standards set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for certified electronic health record (EHR) technology. Just because your system is digital doesn’t mean it qualifies as certified EHR technology. If it’s not approved by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), your agency could run into compliance issues, audits, or payment delays.
Certified systems follow strict federal rules for documentation, data sharing, and security. A noncertified system might seem advanced, but it can lead to missing data, unsigned forms, or other reporting problems. Knowing if your EMR is CMS/ONC-approved is key to staying compliant and protecting your payments.
Let’s understand what counts as EHR technology.
“Certified” isn’t just a marketing term. It means that the technology has passed specific tests set by the ONC. These electronic health record standards cover everything from data exchange and privacy controls to clinical documentation and patient access. Software vendors must meet these requirements to become certified. This keeps the technology secure, accurate, and capable of safely sharing patient data.
CMS then ties its payment programs, like Home Health Value-Based Purchasing and other quality initiatives, to the use of ONC-certified EHRs. This is because these systems generate standardized, reliable, and audit-ready data.
ONC certification is about the software itself, while CMS focuses on how that software supports care delivery and reporting. Without certified EHR technology, your agency could face trouble with compliance in home health, risk penalties, and miss out on key incentives.
An EMR stores digital patient records, but a certified EHR goes further. It meets strict ONC standards for security, data formatting, and interoperability. This means it can safely share information with other systems, support clinical decisions, and create clear audit trails. Certified EHRs also make sure that patient data is captured in a way that supports quality reporting and coordinated care.
While a basic EMR may be enough for internal charting, it likely won’t meet CMS requirements. Using an uncertified system can limit your ability to participate fully in CMS programs. It may also create extra work when validating or submitting data. Certification helps make sure that your technology supports compliance from the start.
If your agency wants to stay competitive, using certified EHR technology is a must. CMS and other value-based care programs require certified systems to track patient outcomes, report data, and ensure accurate payments.
Certification supports key processes like the Patient-Driven Groupings Model (PDGM) and the Outcome and Assessment Information Set-Version E (OASIS-E). PDGM is the payment system used by CMS, which bases payments on patient needs rather than the number of visits. OASIS-E is the assessment tool that collects detailed patient data to guide care and determine payment.
CMS-certified EHR systems make sure this data is accurately completed and submitted on time. This prevents errors, claim denials, and payment delays.
They also help your agency stay ready for audits. Whether it’s a quick review or a full investigation, certified systems provide the proof you need to show you’re following the rules.
Many agencies assume that if a vendor markets their system as “compliant” or “cloud-based,” it must be certified. But unless it’s officially ONC-certified, that assumption can lead to trouble.
Another common mistake is relying on scanned documents or custom internal forms. These might look complete, but they often miss the structured data and audit trails required for CMS reporting.
Using nonintegrated systems like separate platforms for referrals, documentation, and billing can create data silos. Critical information can easily be missed without certified, connected tools, leaving your agency vulnerable during audits.
Home health and hospice agencies may struggle to maintain compliance while managing documents across multiple systems. WorldView solves this by connecting with ONC-certified EHR platforms like Axxess, Homecare Homebase, and KanTime, which are trusted systems widely used across the industry. By operating within these certified environments, WorldView preserves data integrity and supports end-to-end compliance, from intake to billing.
Our integrations provide real-time visibility into documents and referral status, helping your team stay efficient and compliant, without affecting existing workflows.
If you’re unsure whether your system qualifies as certified EHR technology, start by asking your vendor directly:
Is your platform ONC-certified?
What version is certified, and when was it last updated?
Can you provide documentation of certification status?
Does the certified version include all modules (e.g., referrals, orders, plan of care)?
Next, conduct a basic compliance review. Check whether your system supports structured data, audit trails, secure data exchange, and current CMS reporting requirements like OASIS-E, PDGM, and other workflows.
Clarify who on your team owns this responsibility — IT, compliance, or administration. Certification status affects every part of your operation, so someone must be accountable for verifying it.
EHR certification isn’t something to fear. It’s about preparing to deliver care with confidence. The more you know about your system’s status, the better equipped you are to protect your agency from compliance risks.
If you’re unsure whether your current tech meets ONC and CMS standards, now is the time to find out.
Get clarity on your compliance. Let WorldView show you how we support certified documentation workflows that keep your agency audit-ready and running smoothly.