Health IT Policy ONC’s New Proposed Rule: The Next Step to Advancing the Care Continuum Through Technology and Interoperability
Elise Sweeney Anthony | April 11, 2023
Today, ONC released a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) titled, “Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing” (we will colloquially refer to future rules using the shorthand “HTI” and we refer to this rule as HTI-1). The HTI-1 proposed rule, released about three years after the ONC Cures Act Final Rule, builds on the monumental progress that has been made to support patients and providers across the care continuum.
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Health IT Physicians have Widespread Access to State PDMP Data, but Data Sharing Varies Across States
Chelsea Richwine | April 6, 2023
A recent ONC blog post showed physicians have widespread access to data from their state’s prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). According to a 2021 national survey of office-based physicians, more than three-quarters of physician prescribers reported checking the PDMP prior to prescribing controlled substances to a patient for the first time. Prescriber use laws and ongoing efforts to integrate electronic health record (EHR) systems with state PDMPs likely contributed to high levels of PDMP use among physicians.
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Inside ASTP Health IT Standards – The “Secret Sauce” that Brings Electronic Health Information to the Patient and their Care Team
Matthew Rahn | April 3, 2023
Matt is the deputy director for the standards division in the office of technology at ONC. The standards division is responsible for providing technical subject matter expertise to ONC and health IT partners to encourage the adoption and use of health IT standards.
Tell us about some of the projects or initiatives that you lead.
It is important for providers and patients to have access and share health data because it allows for improved health care outcomes.
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Health IT Addressing the Opioid Crisis and Beyond Through Health IT Advancements: The Role of PDMPs
Donna Davidson | March 21, 2023
Combatting the opioid epidemic has long been an HHS priority, and the department provides resources and technical assistance to states, health care providers, and other interested parties to assist in their efforts to address the crisis. ONC helps address the opioid epidemic through its support for the adoption of health IT and promotion of nationwide health information exchange, including through opportunities created by prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). The significance of this work is evident,
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Information Blocking New Study Shows Patients Prefer Immediate Access to Test Results and have Unmet Information Needs
Jordan Everson | March 20, 2023
A recent study of 8,000 patients that accessed their test results via an online patient portal found that more than 95% wanted to continue to immediately receive test results through their portal. That percentage stayed at 95% when focused on patients with non-normal results.
These findings come amid concerns that the immediate release of test results could lead to patient distress when patients access test results before their physicians could contact them and help to interpret those results.