The Department of Health and Human Services announced a final rule changing its health information technology certification program on October 26, while saying proposed information-blocking provisions remain under consideration.
The rule, known as HTI-5, targets administrative requirements for developers participating in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology’s certification program.
HHS projects more than $1.5 billion in regulatory cost savings. That amount is the agency’s estimate, not a measurement of savings already realized by developers, clinicians or patients.
Its release does not establish that patient bills have fallen or that all the promised improvements have occurred.
HHS also distinguishes the final certification changes from future policy work. It plans additional proposals concerning electronic health information exchange, standards, application programming interfaces and certification conditions.
Comments on the information-blocking proposals in the earlier HTI-5 draft remain under review. Monday’s announcement therefore should not be read as final adoption of every provision previously proposed under that name.
Sources: HHS — October 26 HTI-5 announcement: https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-finalizes-hti-5-deregulatory-rule.html