Tech
Open source gets hearing but no action at HIMSS
The fact that CCHIT heard out open source respectfully is good. But at this point it can easily dismiss open source concerns by just punting them down the road, past the delivery of the Obama stimulus money.
CCHIT offers a recording of the meeting on its Web site.
By week's end Trotter was calm enough to explain the problem in simple terms.
- Before it certifies software CCHIT wants to know who "owns" it and thus takes responsibility. The problem is that open source companies like ClearHealth don't have full control of their code. Projects can be forked, then re-certified for one-tenth the cost. Or not certified.
- CCHIT certification requires CPT codes, which are proprietary to the AMA. This makes it impossible to create a fully open source EMR system.
The current CCHIT process is designed for use by proprietary vendors, and allows copyright holders to put a chokehold on the marketplace, Trotter concludes.
The fact that CCHIT heard out open source respectfully is good. But at this point it can easily dismiss open source concerns by just punting them down the road, past the delivery of the Obama stimulus money.