Understanding the 21st Century Cures Act: An Overview of Information Blocking Summary
Introduction
The 21st Century Cures Act was enacted in 2016 to boost medical innovation and expedite drug development and research. The legislation also focuses on improving patient access to their health records. One of the significant provisions of the act is the Information Blocking rule, which is aimed to improve health information exchange by prohibiting the practice of information blocking. In this article, we will delve deep into the Information Blocking Summary, understand the implications of the provisions, and how it can transform the healthcare industry.
The Information Blocking Summary
Information Blocking refers to a practice where individuals or entities limit the availability, exchange, and use of electronic health information (EHI) without any legitimate reasons. The Information Blocking rule states that it is illegal for healthcare providers, health information exchanges, and electronic health record vendors to practice information blocking.
The rule identifies eight exceptions that permit not sharing EHI, including:
- Preventing harm to patients
- Maintaining privacy and security
- Denying access to persons or entities who are not authorized to receive EHI
- Ensuring the accuracy of EHI
- Promoting the efficient exchange of EHI
- Charging reasonable fees
- Preventing a disruption of healthcare operations
- Risk of liability
Any individual or entity that practices information blocking is subject to penalties and fines. The rule also mandates that EHI needs to be shared without any costs.
Implications of the Information Blocking Summary
The Information Blocking rule aims to reduce healthcare cost, improve patient outcomes, and streamline healthcare operations. By promoting interoperability and sharing of health information, it enables patients to access their health records, making healthcare more patient-centric. The rule also paves the way for increased collaboration among healthcare providers, improving patient care coordination, reducing medical errors and improving health outcomes. It can also help to identify health disparities and ensure that patients are receiving the appropriate care.
However, healthcare organizations and EHR vendors may find the Information Blocking rule cumbersome. They may need to invest in new technologies and systems to ensure compliance. There are also concerns that data breaches may increase, leading to financial and reputational damage to healthcare organizations.
Examples of Information Blocking
One of the most significant information blocking practices is charging excessive fees for data exchange. For instance, healthcare organizations may refuse to share patient records with outpatient care providers unless they pay a high fee, which can impact patient outcomes.
Another example is limiting interoperability between EHR systems, whereby healthcare providers may refuse to share data with providers who are not using the same EHR system. This can prevent patients from receiving care from providers who are outside their health network.
Conclusion
The Information Blocking rule is a significant step toward improving patient outcomes, reducing healthcare costs and enhancing healthcare operations. It promotes patient-centric healthcare, improves care coordination, and ensures that patients receive the appropriate care. While healthcare organizations and EHR vendors may find it challenging to ensure compliance, the benefits of the rule outweigh the costs. The Information Blocking rule has the potential to transform the healthcare industry and ultimately improve the lives of patients.
