Main Library
The Medical Group Management Association this week asked for greater transparency from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT in its proposed information blocking rules – and outlined several key recommendations to ease the burden for healthcare providers.
WHY IT MATTERS
“More clarity is needed about how the program operates, the applicability of exceptions and how it intersects with state laws,” MGMA said in its letter Tuesday.
Several organizations have been asking ONC to coordinate with other federal agencies to ensure a more cohesive patient information-sharing strategy. They have expressed the need healthcare providers have for technical assistance to protect privacy and security while they ensure interoperability.
“While we recognize the need for ONC and [Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services] to establish appropriate disincentives for providers who commit information blocking under the 21st Century Cures Act, we harbor significant concerns with the proposed rule and its impact on medical groups,” the MGMA said.
Instead, the medical group practices membership organization proposes a corrective action process that would provide a remedy to allegations of information blocking without the threat of financial penalties that dissuade providers from Medicare participation.