The Trump administration has pledged to crack down on information blocking — and a new report charts a potential course.
HHS said in September it would boost enforcement of healthcare organizations refusing to share data with patients and other entities, which is prohibited under the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016. Providers face CMS “disincentives,” while health IT vendors and health information exchanges can be fined up to $1 million and software developers can lose their HHS certifications. The agency said it is reviewing reports of potential violations.
In a Nov. 11 whitepaper, healthcare consulting firm Leavitt Partners recommends that:
— Congress creates a simpler, more unified penalty structure and increases funding for enforcement.
— The Assistant Secretary for Technology and Policy/ONC issues “binding guidance” and enhances certification requirements.
— The HHS Office of the Inspector General devotes more resources to investigating and taking action on violators.
— CMS more clearly defines “disincentives” for healthcare providers.
— Providers enact default data-sharing to improve compliance.
