CLIA Permits Electronic Exchange of Lab Data

On March 1, 2010, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in collaboration with Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, released guidance clarifying that the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) permit labs to electronically exchange lab data and addressing some confusion regarding laboratory data and health IT. This guidance was put forth in a Survey and Certification letter, including interpretive guidance and frequently asked questions. Underlying this guidance is the clear recognition of the need for privacy and security of laboratory test results. When such information is shared, there should be a commitment that the all test results will be protected and used by the right people and for the right reasons.