MedCity News August 12, 2024
These disincentives may seem harsh, but we must remember the real stakes involved — when medical records are not readily available at the point of care, patients suffer.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently took a significant step toward improving patient care and reducing healthcare costs by finalizing rules that establish disincentives for healthcare providers who engage in information blocking. As a physician and healthcare technology leader, I believe this action is not only justified but long overdue.
The final rule, released in late June, implements key provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act by penalizing providers who unreasonably interfere with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI). While some industry groups have...