HHS Making Big Moves Around Health Data Sharing

Building upon the 21st Cures Act mandates, The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) is making new moves to improve data sharing and create a seamless experience for patients – while also enhancing care outcomes.

According to a recent Politico, the agency has put out a solicitation to manage the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), which is currently handled by The Sequoia Project. 

Sequoia Project CEO Mariann Yeager told Politico that she’s proud of her group’s work and is applying again to continue managing the initiative. In 2020, we hosted a RosettaHealth podcast interview with Yeager, where she discussed how her organization is the Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) for TEFCA.

“It’s been an incredible journey from taking the policy objectives and draft proposals, and working in earnest with stakeholders to create an opportunity to have a government-endorsed exchange approach,” said Yeager in the podcast. “We believe this could help to provide a much-needed focus and roadmap.”

Government CIO also recently published an article about how the ONC has made new strides to enhance health data exchange since the beginning of the year across its portfolio. This includes promoting the 21st Century Cures Act, advancing TEFCA and expanding the USCDI.

The agency also plans to release a final USCDI version 4 this summer, which aims to boost health legislation and improve EHR exchange. Industry leaders and agencies can provide feedback before the rule is published in July 2023.

“USCDI has quickly become the core fabric of healthcare delivery system,” said National Coordinator for Health IT Micky Tripathi, in the Government CIO article. “It’s not only required in EHR certification, it’s also required in corresponding CMS access rules and regulations related to APIs.”

We will continue to be tracking all new health data exchange-related news updates from the ONC, and the industry in general, on the RosettaHealth blog.

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