[{"innerBlocks":[],"name":"core\/freeform","postId":864,"blockType":{"name":"core\/freeform","keywords":[],"attributes":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"providesContext":[],"usesContext":[],"selectors":[],"supports":{"className":false,"customClassName":false,"reusable":false},"styles":[],"variations":[],"apiVersion":3,"title":"Classic","description":"Use the classic WordPress editor.","category":"text"},"originalContent":"The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should scrap their proposed rules on interoperability and start over.

That\u2019s the contention of the Health Innovation Alliance (formerly Health IT Now), a coalition of patient groups, provider organizations, employers and payers.

Earlier this year, ONC issued a proposed rule\u2014along with a companion rule from CMS\u2014intended to make electronic health information accessible to both patients and providers. However, stakeholders have questioned whether the aims are achievable as the rules are currently written and within the proposed timelines.

In particular, ONC\u2019s proposed rule seeks to implement the information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act and includes seven exceptions to the definition of information blocking\u2014the act of intentionally interfering with the sharing of electronic health information.

\u201cWe are fundamentally opposed to information blocking, but we think\u2014at a core level\u2014the rules do not work. They should be rescinded, and ONC and CMS ought to go back to the drawing board,\u201d said Joel White, executive director of the Health Innovation Alliance, on Thursday during a conference call.

According to White, the Health Innovation Alliance is concerned that the seven exceptions to the definition of information blocking are \u201cvery broadly drafted\u201d by ONC and unclear. \u201cThey\u2019re subject to situational and circumstantial interpretations,\u201d he added, contending that it will only lead to \u201cmore confusion and more opportunities to block information.\u201d

Bill Rich, MD, medical director of health policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, agreed with White that the seven exceptions to the definition of information blocking in the proposed rule effectively create \u201cso many loopholes\u201d that would be counterproductive to improving interoperability. \u201cThey have to be pulled back and redone,\u201d said Rich.

For its part, the HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association contends that the ONC proposed rule exceeds the mandate of the 21st Century Cures Act.

\u201cWe think the rule is overly broad and far exceeds Congressional intent,\u201d commented Leigh Burchell, chair of public policy at EHRA and vice president of health policy for Allscripts, an EHR vendor.

Burchell made the case that the definitions of \u201cinteroperability elements<\/b><\/a>\u201d and \u201celectronic health information<\/b><\/a>\u201d in ONC\u2019s proposed rule are very broad and inclusive. \u201cThey pull in stakeholders who I do not believe Congress intended,\u201d she added. \u201cThey pull in a wide range of products that I think are outside of the intent.\u201d

Also See<\/b>: EHRA says ONC\u2019s proposed interoperability rule needs major revisions<\/a>

White commented that ONC is \u201cacting more as a regulator than a coordinator\u201d of health IT\u2014which he believes is problematic.

Likewise, Doug Peddicord, executive director of the Association of Clinical Research Organizations, described ONC\u2019s proposed rule as \u201can example of regulatory overreach.\u201d

According to Burchell, one of the stated goals of the proposed rule from ONC is to foster healthcare technology innovation. However, she contends that if the rule were to be finalized in its current form, it would actually \u201cchill\u201d innovation.

Despite growing criticism of its proposed rule from stakeholders, ONC appears to be taking it all in stride.

\u201cWe have received a wide range of comments\u2014so far\u2014from interested stakeholders and individuals who are negatively impacted by the lack of interoperability in healthcare,\u201d said an agency spokesperson. \u201cWe look forward to receiving even more comments by the time the deadline ends on Monday.\u201d","saveContent":"The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should scrap their proposed rules on interoperability and start over.

That\u2019s the contention of the Health Innovation Alliance (formerly Health IT Now), a coalition of patient groups, provider organizations, employers and payers.

Earlier this year, ONC issued a proposed rule\u2014along with a companion rule from CMS\u2014intended to make electronic health information accessible to both patients and providers. However, stakeholders have questioned whether the aims are achievable as the rules are currently written and within the proposed timelines.

In particular, ONC\u2019s proposed rule seeks to implement the information blocking provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act and includes seven exceptions to the definition of information blocking\u2014the act of intentionally interfering with the sharing of electronic health information.

\u201cWe are fundamentally opposed to information blocking, but we think\u2014at a core level\u2014the rules do not work. They should be rescinded, and ONC and CMS ought to go back to the drawing board,\u201d said Joel White, executive director of the Health Innovation Alliance, on Thursday during a conference call.

According to White, the Health Innovation Alliance is concerned that the seven exceptions to the definition of information blocking are \u201cvery broadly drafted\u201d by ONC and unclear. \u201cThey\u2019re subject to situational and circumstantial interpretations,\u201d he added, contending that it will only lead to \u201cmore confusion and more opportunities to block information.\u201d

Bill Rich, MD, medical director of health policy for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, agreed with White that the seven exceptions to the definition of information blocking in the proposed rule effectively create \u201cso many loopholes\u201d that would be counterproductive to improving interoperability. \u201cThey have to be pulled back and redone,\u201d said Rich.

For its part, the HIMSS Electronic Health Record Association contends that the ONC proposed rule exceeds the mandate of the 21st Century Cures Act.

\u201cWe think the rule is overly broad and far exceeds Congressional intent,\u201d commented Leigh Burchell, chair of public policy at EHRA and vice president of health policy for Allscripts, an EHR vendor.

Burchell made the case that the definitions of \u201c interoperability elements<\/b><\/a>\u201d and \u201celectronic health information<\/b><\/a>\u201d in ONC\u2019s proposed rule are very broad and inclusive. \u201cThey pull in stakeholders who I do not believe Congress intended,\u201d she added. \u201cThey pull in a wide range of products that I think are outside of the intent.\u201d

Also See<\/b>: EHRA says ONC\u2019s proposed interoperability rule needs major revisions<\/a>

White commented that ONC is \u201cacting more as a regulator than a coordinator\u201d of health IT\u2014which he believes is problematic.

Likewise, Doug Peddicord, executive director of the Association of Clinical Research Organizations, described ONC\u2019s proposed rule as \u201can example of regulatory overreach.\u201d

According to Burchell, one of the stated goals of the proposed rule from ONC is to foster healthcare technology innovation. However, she contends that if the rule were to be finalized in its current form, it would actually \u201cchill\u201d innovation.

Despite growing criticism of its proposed rule from stakeholders, ONC appears to be taking it all in stride.

\u201cWe have received a wide range of comments\u2014so far\u2014from interested stakeholders and individuals who are negatively impacted by the lack of interoperability in healthcare,\u201d said an agency spokesperson. \u201cWe look forward to receiving even more comments by the time the deadline ends on Monday.\u201d","order":0,"get_parent":{},"attributes":[],"attributesType":{"content":{"type":"string","source":"raw"},"lock":{"type":"object"}},"dynamicContent":""}]

ONC, CMS proposed rules continue to come under fire from stakeholders

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