A proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) implements provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act and aims to improve health information sharing and interoperability.
The Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability (HTI-2) proposed rule also builds on ONC’s Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-1) final rule. The HTI-1 rule focused on transparency, information blocking, and additional updates to the ONC Health IT Certification Program.
Notably, the HTI-2 rule proposes two new sets of criteria under the ONC Health IT Certification Program, including:
- Public health–oriented certification criteria to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Data Modernization Initiative
- Payer-oriented certification criteria supporting technical requirements for electronic prior authorization as detailed in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule
Additional key provisions in the proposed rule include:
- Requiring the adoption of United States Core Data for Interoperability version 4 by Jan. 1, 2028
- Technology and standards updates that build on the HTI-1 final rule, including certification requirements for linking to imaging systems and exchanging clinical images and support multifactor authentication
- Adjustments to certain “exceptions” to the ONC information blocking regulations, including the creation of a “Protecting Care Access” exception, which would cover practices an actor takes in certain circumstances to reduce its risk of legal exposure for sharing information
The proposed rule will be available for public comment for 60 days upon publication in the Federal Register.
Contact Director of Policy Rob Nelb, MPH, at rnelb@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.