ONC Releases Guidance for EHR Contracting

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released guidance in September 2016 that facilities can use when creating terms and conditions with electronic health record (EHR) and other health IT vendors. The guidance, "EHR Contracts Untangled: Selecting Wisely, Negotiating Terms, and Understanding the Fine Print," is a dynamic, web-based document that explains important concepts in EHR systems, including key rights and vendor obligations that providers may wish to include in a contract (as well as provisions they may wish to avoid). It also provides sample drop-in contract language, offers general guidance for the contracting process, and presents targeted advice on:

1. EHR...