Source: Ohio Department of Health
Many eligible hospitals, critical access hospitals, and eligible professionals/clinicians participate in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Electronic Health Records Incentive Programs – commonly referred to as Promoting Interoperability (PI) and previously referred to as Meaningful Use.
Federal rules require public health jurisdictions like the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to declare readiness and publish procedures for accepting PI data. ODH previously has noted its capability to accept certain PI data, including Specialized Registry Reporting – Cancer Case Reporting from eligible professionals/clinicians. However, ODH has not implemented Specialized Registry Reporting – Cancer Case Reporting from eligible professionals/clinicians.
ODH collects cancer incidence data through its cancer registry which does not currently meet federal PI requirements. Eligible professionals/clinicians who have registered intent with ODH to submit data have been able to attest as meeting the Specialized Registry Reporting—Cancer Case Reporting measure because they were awaiting an invitation from ODH to begin the process to submit data.
CMS has announced that eligible professionals/clinicians will no longer be able to attest as meeting the Specialized Registry Reporting—Cancer Case Reporting measure unless they are in Option 2 (Validated Data Production) of the PI Program and have previously attested as being in the pre-production and validation phase (Option 1). Consequently, ODH will discontinue offering the Specialized Registry Reporting (Cancer Case Reporting) as a PI measure, effective Thursday, January 1, 2026.
The ODH cancer registry (Ohio Cancer Incidence Surveillance System (OCISS)) collects, analyzes, and reports cancer incidence data that are used to determine the burden of cancer in Ohio’s communities, raise awareness about factors that may increase cancer risk and the benefits of early detection, and improve the survival of Ohioans diagnosed with cancer. Each physician, dentist, hospital, or person providing cancer diagnostic or treatment services is required by state law (Ohio Revised Code 3701.262) to report all newly-diagnosed and/or treated cancers to the OCISS. Providers report this data through Web Plus, an application that collects cancer data securely over the internet and meets state reporting requirements but does not meet federal PI requirements.
“Instead of offering the Specialized Registry Reporting—Cancer Case Reporting PI measure, it will be more beneficial for cancer reporting to be conducted through electronic case reporting, and ODH plans to move in this direction along with most other states,” said Brian Fowler, MPH, chief of public health informatics in the ODH Office of Informatics, Data, Epidemiology, and Analytics.
Providers who want more information about this issue can visit the ODH PI webpage, including the Specialized Registry Reporting – Cancer Case Reporting webpage. Questions about this change can be directed to OCISS@odh.ohio.gov.