Health Care Alert: ONC Issues Interim Final Rule Delaying Compliance Date for New “Information Blocking” Rules

Today, October 29, 2020, the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) released an interim final rule (IFR) delaying the compliance date for new “information blocking” requirements previously set to take effect on November 2. 

By way of background, the ONC on May 1 published a final rule implementing certain provisions of the 21^st Century Cures Act, including the Act’s prohibition against “information blocking” by health care providers, health IT developers of certified health IT, and health information networks and exchanges. 

Because this rule represents a major shift in the way that health care providers will be required to respond to requests for access to electronic health information, achieving compliance will demand significant operational changes for many providers.  Industry stakeholders have for months advocated for a delay in light of the challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and ONC has now responded by pushing the compliance date for the “information blocking” provisions to April 5, 2021. 

The IFR also extends the period during which the definition of “electronic health information” subject to the information blocking prohibition will be limited to the USCDI data elements, previously set to end on May 2, 2022.  According to the IFR, the definition of “electronic health information” will now be so limited through, “at a minimum,” October 6, 2022.

Other requirements established in the ONC’s May 1 rule will be delayed as follows:

The text of the IFR is available in full here.  Comments may be submitted up to 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register.

If you have questions about the IFR, the “information blocking” prohibition, or the impact of either on your organization, please contact Jonathan Ishee, Mairi Mull, or your regular Vorys attorney.