Source: Healthcare Innovation
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ updated data strategy for 2023 includes an expansion of the role of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to include the coordination of human services interoperability in addition to its current role in enabling interoperability in the U.S. healthcare system. The HHS data strategy, the first published since 2018, notes that human services lags healthcare in the availability, interoperability, and electronic exchange of data, particularly at the point of care. “There is a need for more comprehensive data standards; freely available, standard taxonomies for human services provider information; better tools to manage consent, map household relationships, and perform matching and linkage; expanded provider onboarding; and aligned incentives and requirements to stimulate data flows,” the strategy document states. “Interoperability improvements would significantly enhance case management, coordinated care and service delivery, closed loop screening and referral with ‘warm handoffs’ between providers, expedited enrollment into benefits and service programs, and enable more efficient and equitable program design and delivery.”