Health IT Developers Push Toward Interoperability Deadline

The 2015 Edition of the Cures Update includes a number of important improvements to interoperability in healthcare, patient safety, and other areas. One of the most significant changes is the inclusion of standards-based APIs and the USCDI v1. The inclusion of secure, standards-based APIs will allow different health care applications to communicate with each other more effectively, enhancing coordination of care and improving patient outcomes. In addition, the USCDI v1 includes a number of enhancements that will improve patient safety. These include improved data quality control measures and the ability to better track patients across different care settings.

These new requirements for the exchange of patient health information are intended to increase the availability of patient data and improve the quality of care. One way these goals will be accomplished is by setting standards for how patient data must be exchanged between different EHR systems. This will allow for greater interoperability between different health care systems and provide patients with more accurate and up-to-date information. 

The Upcoming Deadline

So far, the health IT industry has made some progress in implementing the new ONC (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology) rules, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The deadline for compliance with the new rules is December 31, 2022, and it is important for developers to continue, or start working on certification now. With so many products on the market, it can be difficult to know which ones are truly compliant with the new standards. That's where certification comes in. 

Certification provides a way for developers to show that their products meet the necessary requirements. By getting certified, developers can give their customers peace of mind that their product will be able to meet the needs of the new ONC rules.

Certified health IT developers must support encrypting authentication credentials and multi-factor authentication in order to be compliant with the Act. However, they must also meet a number of other standards, including those for interoperability. These standards are intended to help ensure that electronic health information is accessible and usable across different systems, so that patients and providers can have better access to care and make more informed decisions.

Progress with the new privacy and security certification criteria require transparency attestations indicating whether a certified health IT developer supports encrypting authentication credentials and multi-factor authentication.

Multi-factor authentication is an important step in protecting patient data, but it's not a silver bullet. Developers will need to do more to ensure that their products are secure and compliant with the new standards. In particular, they'll need to pay close attention to the way they handle authentication credentials. Encrypting them is one way to protect them, but developers will also need to make sure that they're properly storing and managing them.

ONC has reported the number of certified health IT modules that support the 2015 Cures Act criteria for encrypting authentication credentials and multi-factor authentication has reached 50 percent. ONC has also documented strong adoption of granular security tags designed to prevent the redisclosure of private patient information at data entry points. 

According to a recent blog by ONC officials Jeff Smith, Tony Myers, and Papia Paul, they state, “There are several other important Cures Update certification criteria where considerable progress will need to occur throughout the year to meet the December 31, 2022 deadline, including the new standardized FHIR API for patient and population services.”

“An ecosystem of APIs, underpinned by specific FHIR standards, will help ensure that health care providers, health insurers, public health agencies, accountable care organizations, and other healthcare entities can access and use patient data in new ways to manage their patients’ health and care. Moreover, as a maintenance of certification requirement (45 CFR 170.404(b)(2)(ii)), certified health IT developers must provide these USCDI v1 updated capabilities to their customers by December 31, 2022, so we expect testing and certification to ramp up and occur in the coming months for many health IT developers”, said the ONC officials.

They concluded by saying, “We are thrilled to see several policy initiatives come to fruition in 2022 and are optimistic that this year will be an important milestone in our interoperability journey”.

Achieving Certification

There are a few things to keep in mind when pursuing certification for your health IT product. First, make sure you understand the requirements of the new rules. Second, work with a reputable certifying body to get your product certified. And finally, keep your customers informed about your progress towards compliance.

By taking these steps, you can ensure that your product is ready for the new ONC rules and that you are providing your customers with the best possible experience. 

Moving Forward

The 21st Century Cures Act is a critical piece of legislation that will help ensure that patients have access to the best possible care. By meeting the interoperability standards, developers can help make sure that health IT systems are able to communicate and exchange data seamlessly. Implementing these improvements means the healthcare industry is taking another important step forward in providing high-quality, safe care for all patients.

At ForeSee Medical, we're excited to see these standards finally come into effect and believe that they will help make healthcare more patient-centered and efficient.

Blog by: The ForeSee Medical Team