“Meaningful Use” Submissions of Electronic Case Reports

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) began to pilot electronic case reporting (eCR) in 2017.

In 2018, electronic case reporting (eCR) became an official Meaningful Use option for Stage 3.

In 2022, electronic case reporting (eCR) became a required measure for Promoting Interoperability for eligible hospitals (EHs), critical access hospitals (CAHs), and eligible providers (EPs).

This page serves as a declaration of readiness regarding the agency’s preparedness with respect to eCR.

(Note that VDH declared readiness for eCR in January 2017.)

Providers are able register and should register their intent to onboard for eCR through the Meaningful Use Registration System. The Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program used to be called Meaningful Use when it was first launched in 2011, but was rebranded in April 2018. For questions email us at MeaningfulUse@vdh.virginia.gov.

Note: The use of the term “Meaningful Use” on VDH websites refers to the exchange of public health messaging with VDH for all CMS EHR Incentive Programs such as Promoting Interoperability, Meaningful Use, MIPS, or OPPS.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which providers does eCR apply to?

Eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals (EHs) and critical access hospitals (CAHs) that treat or diagnose any reportable diseases for which data are collected by Virginia’s reportable disease system(s) during the provider’s electronic health record (EHR) reporting period may choose to attest for electronic case reporting (eCR). The EH/CAH or provider picks their own reporting period, with 90 days required in CY 2022.

2. Does the Promoting Interoperability measure for eCR specify a standard or have an implementation guide?

eCR is the only PI measure that does not specify the standard/guide in the rule, however, pleasenote below that VDH will be using two specific standards.

VDH currently uses the HL7 electronic initial case report (eICR) standard R1.1 and is working towards R3.0 for electronic case reporting (eCR) to support the new CMS Promoting Interoperability regulations for eCR. It is these standards that we will use to eventually eliminate manual            reporting requirements. We also require the use of APHL AIMS and the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS) to                ensure appropriate reporting (see #4 below).

3. Is there a VDH Implementation Guide (IG) for case reporting?

For the eICR, providers are asked to use the “HL7 CDA® R2 Implementation Guide: Public Health Case Report, Release 2 – US Realm – the Electronic Initial Case Report (eICR).”  Information on this standard is available at the following link: http://www.hl7.org/implement/standards/product_brief.cfm?product_id=7

VDH has certain key data elements needed in the C-CDA for public health follow-up and/or for loading electronically in our surveillance systems.  Key data elements are outlined here in the VDH Key eCR Data Elements.

4. Will providers report directly to VDH via ConnectVirginia, or the APHL Informatics Messaging Services (AIMS) Platform?

Providers must connect to the APHL AIMS hub via Direct Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) or NwHIN XDR using the eHealth Exchange HUB. VDH requires   the use of APHL AIMS to ensure that triggered messages are filtered through the Reportable Condition Knowledge Management System (RCKMS) to ensure received   reports are based on the most recent reporting criteria. The AIMS hub is connected to VDH through ConnectVirginia.

5. What conditions are reportable via eCR?

Please refer to the Reportable Disease List for the list of conditions for which VDH would want to receive eCR.

6. Are trigger codes available yet for eCR?

The Reportable Conditions Trigger Codes (RCTC) can be found at https://ersd.aimsplatform.org/#/home

To access the latest published trigger codes, you must first register to continue. Once registered, you will be able to download the latest RCTC codes by clicking on the Latest RCTC Spreadsheet & Change Log button.

7. What does eCR onboarding involve?

Eligible professionals and hospitals can refer to the eCR Onboarding Process for information.  Please contact us (see our contact information at the bottom) to schedule an onboarding phone call or to discuss your interest in eCR.

Additional information on eCR measure will be posted as it becomes available.   

VDH Contact(s):

Electronic Case Reporting:

Merylyn Huitz
PHI Messaging Manager
804-864-7941
merylyn.huitz@vdh.virginia.gov

Email:

DIISMessaging@vdh.virginia.gov

MeaningfulUse@vdh.virginia.gov

 

Page last Modified: 9/27/2022 1:15PM