ONC, CMS ease enforcement of Interoperability Final Rules in response to COVID-19 crisis

Don Rucker, MD National
Coordinator for Health
Information Technology (ONC)

PARCA eNews – April 21, 20220 – The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in conjunction with the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced today compliance flexibilities regarding the implementation of the interoperability final rules announced on March 9, 2020. 

The relaxation of enforcement was a policy decision made as a result of the COVID-19 emergency.

"ONC remains committed to ensuring that patients and providers can access electronic health information, when and where it matters most," Don Rucker, MD, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology said in a press release. 

"During this critical time, we understand that resources need to be focused on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. To support that important work and the information sharing efforts we are already seeing,ONC intends to exercise enforcement discretion for 3 months at the end of certain ONC Health IT Certification Program compliance dates associated with the ONC Cures Act Final Rule to provide flexibility while ensuring the goals of the rule remain on track." 

Source: HHS.gov press release