Statement on HHS Health IT Interoperability Proposed Rules

By Blair Childs, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Premier

Today the Department of Health and Human Services has taken a critical step forward in addressing the ongoing health information (IT) interoperability challenges that hinder the ability of providers to access and exchange healthcare data.

Several of the proposals are consistent with Premier’s efforts to improve data availability and use for providers. ONC’s proposal to adopt open, publicly available and standardized application programming interfaces (APIs) will help providers access data at the point of care and within workflow. Recognition and adoption of standards is important to ensure data liquidity and will help providers implement tools such as predictive analytics, clinical decision support and clinical surveillance. We appreciate ONC’s proposed enhancements to the conditions and maintenance of certification and the proposed requirement that AP Technology Suppliers publish the terms and conditions applicable to their API technology.

CMS’ proposal to require commercial insurers within federal healthcare programs to implement open APIs will help ensure that patient claims and health information will be more readily available to innovate in these programs. While we appreciate this effort, CMS should also facilitate payers more readily sharing data with providers who are managing care across the continuum.

We are continuing to assess the rules about any implications for additional provider burdens and costs, including those related to permitted and prohibited fees and their relationship to information blocking. We are optimistic that the proposed rules will help foster increased provider data access and support ongoing innovation and competition in the health IT marketplace.