Health IT & Information Blocking
Health IT regulations under the 21st Century Cures Act establish standards for health information technology certification and prohibit information blocking. The information blocking rules apply to healthcare providers, health IT developers, health information exchanges, and health information networks. The goal is to promote interoperability and patient access to their electronic health information.
Key Points
Information blocking is a practice that is likely to interfere with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI)
Eight exceptions define practices that are not considered information blocking (privacy, security, infeasibility, content/manner, fees, licensing, health IT performance)
Health IT developers must certify their products meet ONC criteria for interoperability
Providers that engage in information blocking may face penalties and disincentives
EHI includes all electronic PHI plus other data in a designated record set
Key Areas
Certification Criteria
Health IT module certification, testing procedures
Information Blocking
Prohibited practices, exceptions, actors subject to the rule
Key Provisions
Information Blocking Definition
Defines what constitutes information blocking for each type of actor. Critical for understanding compliance obligations.
Information Blocking Exceptions
The eight exceptions that protect practices from being considered information blocking. Knowing these is essential for compliance.