By Rédaction Africa Links 24 with John C. (Jack) Lewin and Jane Delgado
Published on 2024-01-18 09:30:31
In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act mandated the U.S. to move towards interoperability. Interoperability was defined as the accessibility, exchange, and utilization of all electronically accessible health information without requiring any special effort from the user. However, seven years after the bill’s passage, the Department of Health and Human Services issued a rule in December that would penalize providers for impeding access to electronic health information.
Despite this rule, it has failed to achieve what the 21st Century Cures Act aimed for. It defines interoperability as access to the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI v3). Meanwhile, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued its interoperability standards as part of its prior authorization rule using Health Level 7 for data transfer between providers.
The focus on unrestricted data access and exchange is essential for healthcare providers to efficiently deliver patient care. The exchange of critical health information securely and seamlessly is crucial for improving patient outcomes and reducing medical errors. Moreover, the ability to access relevant health information from other providers can greatly benefit both the patient and the care team.
Improving interoperability in healthcare is crucial for patient care and overall healthcare delivery. The ability to securely share and access clinical data across different health systems can greatly improve the coordination of care and ensure that healthcare providers have access to the most accurate and up-to-date information available.
This rule is a step towards enhancing data exchange, but there is still a long way to go before true interoperability can be achieved. Healthcare stakeholders and regulators will need to work together to develop and implement policies and standards that truly promote seamless and unrestricted access to electronic health information.
Read the original article on Africa Health News
