The Sequoia Project Releases Draft QHIN Onboarding Procedures for TEFCA

The Sequoia Project, selected by the ONC as the Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) to support the implementation of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), has released additional information regarding the requirements for becoming a Qualified Health Information Network (QHIN).

The Sequoia Project requests stakeholder feedback on these items before releasing the final documents.

“Throughout the TEFCA development process, we’ve sought to instill the principles of transparency and community engagement, which are core to The Sequoia Project’s values,” Mariann Yeager, chief executive officer of The Sequoia Project, said in a press release.

“The feedback we receive through our events, website, and email has been invaluable as we operationalize TEFCA and finalize implementation resources,” she added. “We look forward to another robust round of engagement regarding the QHIN Onboarding and Designation SOP and the QHIN Application this month.”

The items for review include:

• Draft QHIN Onboarding and Designation Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), including criteria for becoming a QHIN, the application evaluation process, and the required testing processes.
• Draft QHIN Application that details the proposed application information.
• Draft Types of Entities That Can Be a Participant or Subparticipant in TEFCA SOP, which aims to help stakeholders determine the entry point to the network of TEFCA-compliant QHINs that works for them.

The RCE seeks input on all three documents through June 15, 2022. Drafts are available for review on the RCE website.

“Since TEFCA’s release on January 18, 2022, we’ve been entirely focused on hitting our promised timeline of potential live exchange before the year’s end,” noted Yeager.

“We look forward to the thoughtful input of potential QHINs and other stakeholders to carefully consider these drafts,” she said. “Remember that these documents are just that – drafts. We’re not accepting application submissions at this time.”

The RCE also released the updated “QHIN Security Requirements for the Protection of TEFCA Information (TI) SOP” and launched an online resource to maintain a list of cybersecurity certifications for QHINs.

Per the Common Agreement, QHINs must achieve and maintain third-party certification to an industry-recognized cybersecurity framework. Prospective QHIN organizations can now access the initial list of cybersecurity certifications on the RCE website to prepare for the application and potential onboarding process.