Countdown to Information Blocking Rule in Progress

Organizations and providers express concerns about potential impact.

Nearly two weeks ago the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) began reviewing a proposed rule from the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology that could have a significant impact on entities involved in “data blocking.” So far, nothing has emerged, but the eyes of industry players are closely watching for news as the clock ticks.

While the “21st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program” covers a lot of ground, the information blocking portion of the mandate is the most controversial. The Act authorizes fines of $1 million from the Office of Inspector General (OIG) for each case of information...