ONC Announces Approved Health IT Data Standards for SVAP

ONC has released the newest approved health IT data standards for the annual Standards Version Advancement Process (SVAP),  a recent HealthITBuzz blog post announced.

The ONC Cures Act Final Rule (Final Rule) established the voluntary SVAP as part of the Real World Testing Condition and Maintenance of Certification.

SVAP gives Certified Health IT Developers who participate in the ONC Health IT Certification program the option to update their Health IT Modules to support newer data standards versions for interoperable health information exchange

“The SVAP is designed to make ONC Health IT Certification program responsive to industry needs by allowing for better alignment to industry efforts for standards advancement, removing barriers for standards development and version updates, and improving the ability for health IT developers to provide relevant, timely, and innovative solutions to their clients,” ONC officials Rob Anthony and Avinash Shanbhag wrote in the HealthITBuzz blog post.

The United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 2 (USCDI v2) is one of the most notable adopted standards that has been approved for use in the Certification Program, ONC officials noted.

USCDI v2 aims to advance health equity work by using critical patient demographic data. In addition, health IT developers will be able to adopt social determinants of health (SDOH) and sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data standards from USCDI v2.

SVAP approval also came alongside approval for three HL7 standards, including two US Core Implementation Guides Versions 4.0.0 and 5.0.1, and the HL7 Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture. The HL7 standards intend to increase the implementation of USCDI Version 1.

“Approving two US Core Implementation Guides in the same SVAP cycle is unusual and a reflection of the shift we announced late last year,” Anthony and Shanbhag wrote.

“Approving two US Core Implementation Guides in the same SVAP cycle is unusual and a reflection of the shift we announced late last year,” Anthony and Shanbhag wrote.

Both US Core Implementation Guides were created to assist with separate standards. The HL7 FHIR US Core Implementation Guide Version 4.0.0 will support USCDI v 1. However, the C-CDA Companion Guide Release 3 and the HL7 FHIR US Core Implementation Guide Version 5.0.1 will support USCDI v2.

“It made sense to include both implementation guides because Version 4.0.0 addresses certain ambiguities and makes improvements to US Core Version 3.1.1”, Anthony and Shanbhag stated. “This implementation guide will provide better implementation guidance to Certified Health IT Developers working towards certification for Standardized API for patient and population services.”

Certified Health IT Developers can use US Core Implementation Guide Version 5.0.1 and the C-CDA Release 3 to support their clients with new SDOH data. Yet, US Core Implementation Guides Versions 4.0.0 would not be able to provide that assistance.

In addition, SVAP approved two additional standards for Standardized API for patient and population services. The SMART Application Launch Framework and Bulk Data Access Implementation Guides will support authentication, authorization services, and bulk export capabilities.  

Through these standards, healthcare providers can gather data from multiple patients to help them better manage their patient population.

The SVAP announcement also released the update to the HL7 CDA R2 IG for Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Reports, Release 3 – US Realm. The data exchange standard offers updated implementation guidance for Health IT Modules, explaining how to electronically transmit antimicrobial resistance event reports to the National Health Safety Network (NHSN). 

“Overall, these new standards give developers the ability to continue to advance their products and display their updated functionality via their product listings in the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL),” wrote Anthony and Shanbhag. “Also, as developers prepare their inaugural Real World Testing, these standards can be incorporated into their measures to demonstrate their products’ real-world use.”

For the Approved Standard for 2022, Certified Health IT Developers choosing to leverage the SVAP can do so beginning August 29, 20.