What’s happening: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a final rule on health data, patient access, interoperability, artificial intelligence (AI), and standards to implement provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act.
What else to know: The final rule is effective Feb. 8.
HHS through the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued a final rule that:
- Implements the Electronic Health Record Reporting Program as the new condition and maintenance of certification requirements for developers of certified health information technology (HIT)
- Updates the information blocking regulations
- Adopts United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Version 3 to replace USCDI Version 1 as the baseline USCDI standard, effective Jan. 1, 2026
- Updates ONC HIT Certification Program (Certification Program) standards, criteria, and requirements
- Updates standards adopted under the Certification Program to advance interoperability, support enhanced HIT functionality, and reduce burden and costs
- Establishes unprecedented transparency requirements for AI and other predictive algorithms that are part of certified HIT
Additional information is available in a fact sheet.
ONC will host a series of information sessions starting Jan. 4. Registration is required.
