AHA comments on proposed rule designed to improve patient engagement, information sharing, interoperability

The AHA Oct. 4 commented on the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability (HTI-2) proposed rule. AHA expressed support for HHS' efforts to advance interoperability, improve transparency and support electronic access and exchange of electronic health records. Among the provisions AHA supports include the establishment of criteria aligning with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' application programming interfaces requirements and recommendations; continued development of United States Core Data for Interoperability standards; and the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement, among others. The association's concerns about the proposed rule include providers still being held to a higher accountability standard for data sharing; USCDI version deadlines being too aggressive; new encryption requirements that are burdensome; and TEFCA's governance structure.