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Public health agencies and clinical data registries must report on their readiness to receive electronic public health measures by Oct. 31 for inclusion in a centralized repository early next year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services  today. AHA has long urged CMS to create the repository to eliminate the need for hospitals to make multiple inquiries to public health agencies and registries to determine their readiness. To satisfy Stage 2 and 3 meaningful use requirements under the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record Incentive Programs, hospitals must determine the readiness of local public health agencies and registries to receive electronic submissions of public health data, and send data electronically to those agencies and registries that are ready.