What You Should Know:
– HHS released an interim final rule to extend compliance dates and timeframes to meet information blocking beyond those identified in April 21, 2020, enforcement discretion announcement and establishes new future applicability dates for information blocking provisions.
– The interim final rule also adopts updated standards and makes technical corrections and clarifications to the ONC Cures Act Final Rule.
Today the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) released an interim final rule with comment period that extends the compliance dates and timeframes necessary to meet certain requirements related to information blocking and Conditions and Maintenance of Certification (CoC/MoC) requirements.
Final Cures Act Timeline
In the Cures Act Final Rule, ONC set compliance dates and timeframes to meet certain requirements related to the information blocking and Conditions and Maintenance of Certification (CoC/MoC) requirements. In April 2020, ONC first responded to health IT stakeholders’ concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic by exercising its enforcement discretion and providing three months after each initial date or timeline for all new requirements under the ONC Health IT Certification Program (Program).
Interim Final Rule Details
The interim final rule issued today provides the health care ecosystem additional flexibility and time to effectively respond to the public health threats posed by the spread of COVID-19. It extends the Program compliance dates beyond those identified in April 21, 2020, enforcement discretion announcement and establishes new future applicability dates for information blocking provisions. The interim final rule also adopts updated standards and makes technical corrections and clarifications to the ONC Cures Act Final Rule.
“The six months of additional time afforded by the agency is critical for medical practices as they face significant operational and financial challenges associated with the national COVID-19 pandemic. MGMA maintains its concern that the information blocking regulation, with its many complex and confusing requirements and exceptions, will add unnecessary administrative burden on medical groups. We urge ONC to take full advantage of this additional time and develop comprehensive guidance and targeted educational resources,” said Anders Gilberg, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, Medical Group Management Association (MGMA)
