HHS ONC Releases New Proposed Rule on Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced on July 10 a notice of proposed rulemaking entitled "Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability," referred to as HTI-2. The proposals are intended to further advance health technology interoperability by building off the HTI-1 rule released late last year [refer to Washington Highlights, Dec. 15, 2023]. 

Key proposals include modifying the information-blocking regulations in part to recognize changes to privacy rules for protecting information regarding reproductive health care [refer to Washington Highlights, April 26], expanding certification standards to enhance interoperability with public health IT systems as well as payers in response to new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services rules [refer to Washington Highlights, Jan. 19], and adopting an updated version of the United States Core Data for Interoperability for certified electronic health record technology.  

Comments on the rule are due 60 days from the rule's formal publication in the Federal Register.