CMS EHR Certification ID: Quick Reference for Health IT Developers and CMS Program Participants
Last updated: September 1, 2026
CEHRT and the Base EHR Definition
Certified EHR Technology (CEHRT), as defined by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at 42 CFR 495.4 and 42 CFR 414.1305, is required for participation in certain CMS programs.
- CEHRT always includes, at a minimum, the capabilities in the Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) Definition as defined by ASTP/ONC
- CMS programs may require additional certified functionality beyond the Base EHR Definition
- Participants should verify CEHRT requirements for their specific CMS program and reporting year
What Is a CMS EHR Certification ID?
A CMS EHR Certification ID, also referred to as a CEHRT ID, is an identifier generated through the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL). It is required for participation in certain CMS programs, including the Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program and the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
The ID uses a year-based prefix that reflects the reporting year. It can represent a single certified product or a combination of certified health IT products that together meet 100% of the Base EHR Definition for the reporting year at the time the ID is generated.
A new CMS EHR Certification ID should be generated for each applicable reporting year, even if the underlying product(s) do not change.
CHPL ID vs. CMS EHR Certification ID
CHPL ID
- Used in the ONC Health IT Certification Program
- Assigned to each individual certified health IT product listing
- Uniquely identifies a single health IT product (module) on the CHPL
CMS EHR Certification ID
- Generated through the CHPL for CMS reporting purposes
- May represent a single certified product or a combination of certified products (multiple CHPL IDs)
- Uniquely identifies the certified product suite, not the reporting entity
How CMS EHR Certification IDs Are Generated
CMS EHR Certification IDs are generated using the CMS ID Creator on the CHPL. Step-by-step instructions are included in the CHPL Public User Guide. To generate an ID:
- Select one or more certified health IT products listed on the CHPL
- Check the reporting year for which the CMS EHR Certification ID is being generated
- The selected product(s) must collectively meet 100% of the Base EHR Definition
- Once all Base EHR requirements are met, the CHPL generates a CMS EHR Certification ID
In September of each year, the CMS ID Creator makes the new reporting year available while retaining the prior reporting year through December 31.
Any reporter selecting the same combination of products will generate the same CMS EHR Certification ID. If the product combination changes, the ID will also change.
If more than one certified product was used during the reporting period (including upgrades), all applicable products should be included when generating the CMS EHR Certification ID.
Why Can’t I Generate a CMS EHR Certification ID?
If the CMS ID Creator shows less than 100%, it means the selected product(s) do not yet meet all Base EHR requirements for the applicable reporting year at the time the ID is being generated. In this case:
- The CMS ID Creator will identify Base EHR certification criteria that are missing or are not up to date for the selected reporting year
- An ID cannot be generated until all Base EHR requirements are met
- Product developers/vendors can usually provide product-specific information about certified modules, versions, and updates
Please note the CMS ID Creator determines if the selected certified health IT product(s) meet 100% of the Base EHR Definition for the applicable reporting year at the time the ID is generated. It is not intended to determine whether the product(s) meet all program-specific requirements beyond the Base EHR Definition or which reporting year applies to a particular submission.
Resources
CHPL Public User Guide (step-by-step instructions)
Base Electronic Health Record (EHR) Definition