07 Oct
The Information Blocking rule, as we know it, is set to change from October 6th, 2022.
The 21st Century Cures Act, finalized in the year 2016, included provisions about the Information Blocking rule. The Information Blocking rule prohibits any interference with access, exchange or use of Electronic Health Information (EHI) by Healthcare Providers, Health Information Exchanges or Health Information Networks and Health IT Developers. (all known as “actors”)
The applicability date for the Information Blocking (IB) was postponed to April 5, 2021, from the previously finalized date of November 2, 2020. Now, there is yet another change in the Information Blocking Rule.
What’s changing from October 6th, 2022?
The initial 18-month period from April 2021 to October 2022 provided time for the actors to familiarize themselves with the IB rule and to grow accustomed to its intricacies with a smaller subset of EHI in practice.
Previously, the IB rule applied only to EHI data as defined by the data elements present in the United States Core Data Standard for Interoperability V3 (USCDI). Now, from October 6th, 2022, the IB rule expands to include more information under its provisions. Its scope is expanded to include all EHI data that would be in a Designated Record Set (DRS).
How are the IB Actors affected by this change?
The actors are required to once again familiarize themselves with the rule, especially its expansion in terms of EHI and the exceptions to the rule. They also need to raise a claim if they encounter Information Blocking.
Healthcare Providers need to review whether their actions may likely interfere with the access, exchange or use of EHI. With regards to HIEs/HINs and Health IT Developers, they need to know whether a practice may indulge in Information Blocking.
How can you achieve compliance?
Once a request for EHI is received, any delay or unnecessary impediments can implicate the information blocking provisions. Though HIEs and providers aren’t required to proactively present EHI data to patients by themselves, it is highly advisable to do so. The idea is to enable patients with their information as soon as the clinicians receive them too!
Moving forward, we can expect to see many more regulatory updates including rules for imposing disincentives for health care providers blocking the free flow of information between disparate systems.
To ensure you are complying with the Information Blocking Rule and the 21st Century Cures Act, a futuristic Interoperability platform with API endpoints for effective exchange of EHI data is necessary.
Achieve compliance today! Talk to us.
Aigilx health specializes in developing Interoperability solutions to create a healthcare ecosystem and aids in the delivery of efficient, patient-centric and population-focused healthcare.
