PEW April 15, 2021
Still, recent federal announcement on information blocking rules leaves some unfinished business
The federal agency that oversees health information technology, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), on April 5 announced a long-awaited requirement of what electronic health data must be made available to patients and their providers. This represents a significant step toward improving the quality of care when patients see multiple doctors and ensuring that individuals can view their records. These enhancements will advance data-sharing and access, but ONC’s work is not done—and further delays in implementing these rules could set this progress back.
As part of the 21st Century Cures Act, enacted in 2016, Congress used the term “information blocking” to refer...