Security News > 2020 > March > HHS Releases Final Data Sharing Rules

The Department of Health and Human Services on Monday released its long-awaited interoperability and information blocking final rules as called for under the 21st Century Cures Act.

The aim is to enable patients to access their data through any third-party application they choose and also integrate a health plan's information to a patient's electronic health record, the officials said.

While many of the comments encouraged HHS to move forward with rules that ultimately put electronic health information in the hands of patients, some industry stakeholders and others voiced strong opposition to proposals, including the focus on APIs.

Among vocal opponents was EHR vendor Epic Systems, which contended that by requiring health systems to send patient data to any app as requested by the patient, the ONC, which coordinates efforts around national secure health information exchange, rule inadvertently creates new privacy risks.

"We look forward to reviewing the final rule in greater detail. We support the intent of the Cures Act to eradicate practices that unreasonably limit the access, exchange and use of electronic health information for authorized and permitted purposes including patient access to their health information," says Wylecia Wiggs Harris, CEO of the American Health Information Management Association.

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/hhs-releases-final-data-sharing-rules-a-13910