Our country has invested billions of dollars to transform the healthcare industry so it can meet the demands of a digital future. With more than 96% of hospitals and 78% of physicians offices using electronic health records (EHRs), modern interoperability is stronger than ever with the help of the 21st Century Cures Act. However, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy (ASTP) have been monitoring the reports of potential violations to the current laws and regulations that protect electronic health information (EHI) sharing, so in turn, they are taking time to address the various concerns.
These claims include reports that publicly available API documentation is not available or usable, API users are being prevented from connecting with providers, and third-party developers serving patients are being presented with false regulatory hurdles. What does the ASTP plan to do moving forward? Some of their actionables include increased monitoring and enforcement, new educational resources, and improved feedback channels. The HHS remains committed to the 21st Century Cures Act and the good it does for patients across the country.
The importance of the 21st Century Cures Act cannot be understated and at Greenlight, we strive to bring increased levels of interoperability to all patients and providers. We remain diligent in our efforts to provide secure and uncomplicated access to EHRs which are a critical component in care and treatment plans. We look forward to increased protections surrounding EHRs and information-sharing.
Read the full article: Getting Real about Information Blocking and APIs – Health IT Buzz
