The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) released its final report on reducing regulatory and administrative burden related to electronic health record (EHR) systems and health information technology (IT).
In the report, mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act, ONC highlights issues and challenges pertaining to the use of health IT and EHRs in four categories:
- clinical documentation;
- health IT usability and the user experience;
- EHR reporting; and
- public health reporting.
Within each of these four issue areas, the agency provides strategies and recommendations the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) can take to reduce burden for health care providers.
Included in the recommendations are points raised by America’s Essential Hospitals in comments last year in response to the draft version of the report on the use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), patient substance use confidentiality requirements under 42 CFR Part 2, and electronic clinical quality measure (eCQM) reporting. Specifically, the report recommends that HHS streamline PDMP integration into EHRs. ONC also recognizes the need for more robust development and vetting of eCQMs and calls on HHS to expand on existing guidance about privacy requirements under 42 CFR Part 2 and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
Contact Senior Director of Policy Erin O’Malley at eomalley@essentialhospitals.org or 202.585.0127 with questions.
