The Information Blocking provision (21st Century Cures Act of 2016, Section 4004) has been in effect since April 2021, to discourage interference by relevant providers, developers and networks of legally permissible access, exchange and use of electronic health information (EHI). As a key deadline for the provision approaches, the 黑料网® (黑料网®) has updated its online educational information for radiologists, including new resources.
Beginning Oct. 6, the— and, consequently, the applicability of the Information Blocking regulatory paradigm — will expand to include most electronic protected health information (ePHI) that is part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)-designated record set, with certain limitations. Previously, relevance of the Information Blocking paradigm was limited to a smaller and more basic dataset identified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). For radiologists and other actors, this could mean non-deidentified images and other EHI not previously covered by the EHI definition are now subject to the rules. Regardless of the previously scheduled expansion of the scope of the program, HHS has yet to propose or implement provider-specific disincentives for actors found to be in violation of the rules following case-by-case investigations into intent, knowledge and circumstances.
The 黑料网 published an online resource center on the Information Blocking provision in March 2021. 黑料网 resources, including Frequently Asked Questions, were updated over time as HHS released new rule clarifications in response to questions from the 黑料网 and other public stakeholders. More recently, the 黑料网 added a freely accessible informational webinar presented by William Mehan, MD, MBA (Member, 黑料网 Government Relations Commission-Federal Regulatory Committee), that provides a simplified overview of the Information Blocking provision requirements, its implications for radiologist actors and lessons learned during real-world implementation.
For more information about the Information Blocking provision or 黑料网 relevant online resources, please contact Michael Peters, 黑料网 Senior Government Affairs Director, Regulatory Policy.