Pew: ONC Information Blocking Provisions Good First Step

The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) should not further delay the rollout of upcoming 21st Century Cures Act provisions so healthcare stakeholders can reap the full benefits of the information blocking rules, according to Molly Murray, Health Information Technology officer at Pew Charitable Trusts.

Murray conceded the information blocking provisions were a good first step, but delays could further hamper industry progress.

On March 9, 2020, ONC officially released the next phase of the 21st Century Cures Act, the interoperability rule, which primarily focused on interoperability and patient information blocking.

On April 5, 2021, those information blocking provisions went into effect.

“This represents a significant step toward improving the quality of care when patients see multiple doctors and ensuring that individuals can view their records,” Murray wrote in a recent op-ed. “These enhancements will advance data-sharing and access, but ONC’s work is not done—and further delays in implementing these rules could set this progress back.”

As of April 5, healthcare providers, certified health IT developers, and health information exchanges (HIEs) need to abide by those regulations and share all data of the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) set.

ONC defined USCDI as “a standardized set of health data classes and constituent data elements for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange.”

“Meanwhile, the pandemic has highlighted how gaps in electronic data-sharing can force public health authorities to share test results or vaccine records using antiquated methods, such as faxes,” Murray wrote. “Use of such technologies can add data entry burdens and make it harder for public health agencies to respond to health crises in a timely way. Better electronic data exchange could help them address future disease outbreaks.”

A 2020 Pew survey revealed a majority of US citizens wanted access to their health records, along with lab results, clinical notes, and immunization records. Survey respondents also wanted data exchanged between various providers.

“Such a push to make health data more uniform and available to providers and patients also fits with the wishes of most Americans,” Murray noted.

The April ONC announcement is a vital move, but Murray said it is only a first step.

A smaller subset of patient data will be a primary focus through the next 18 months. By October 2022, ONC is scheduled to require providers and impacted healthcare stakeholders, such as HIEs, to exchange patient data. 

Thus, the next 18 months will give providers and HIEs more experience in the information blocking regulation before the full scope of the regulation’s information blocking definition goes into effect.

Murray said to take full advantage of the regulations, ONC should clarify that it will not delay the rules any further.

“Still, ONC’s announcement represents another significant step toward the kind of data-sharing that can help EHRs reach their full potential,” Murray wrote.

“The next 18 months will give providers, vendors, and health information exchanges a chance to get up to speed on the new requirements. Come 2022, they should be ready to make sure electronic health data can go where it’s needed, when it’s needed.”

Again, Murray noted that the April 5 enforcements mark progress for the health IT industry.

The agency adopted the first version of USCDI as a standard in the ONC Final Rule, and it set a foundation for increased patient data sharing to boost patient care. In January 2021, ONC released USCDI Version 2 to enhance interoperability and patient data exchange between patients, providers, and other users.

USCDI data can help support separate providers who care for the same patient. For example, when a primary care physician refers a patient to a specialist. Exchanging data could aid both the physician and the specialist grasp the patient’s complete medical history to improve patient care.