HTI-1 final rule now in effect, with an eye on AI – and there’s more to come, says ONC

At HIMSS24 on Wednesday, officials from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT offered some reminders and refreshers on a significant final rule that took effect for many healthcare organizations just over a month ago February 8. And ONC is also previewing what to expect for the next related rulemaking. This past January, the agency published the final rule for the (deep breath) Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing Final Rule (much more pithily phrased as HTI-1) to the Federal Register, with an effective date of March 11, 2024. The rule implements more provisions of the landmark 21st Century Cures Act and makes updates around standards, implementation specs and other criteria for the longstanding ONC Health IT Certification Program.