HITAC issues recommendations for merging clinical and administrative data

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Credit – HITAC History

PARCA eNews – Jan. 11, 2021 – In a blog post by Michael Wittie and Thomas Mason of the Office of the National Coordinator, the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) issued 15 recommendations for advancing the goal of merging clinical and administrative data based on findings from the Intersection of Clinical and Administrative Data (ICAD) Task Force.

The Task Force was formed to examine the barriers to allowing patients, caregivers and clinicians the information needed for prior authorization for treatment and healthcare services. Clinicians have reported that getting such data has been a major burden.
Based on what was learned about the current state of prior authorization the ICAD Task Force examined what is needed to make electronic data transfer across the broader system of clinical and administrative data exchange. They developed a set of 15 final recommendations:

• Prioritize Administrative Efficiency in Relevant Federal Programs
• Establish a Government-wide Common Standards Advancement Process
• Converge Health Care Standards
• Provide a Clear Roadmap and Timeline for Harmonized Standards
• Harmonize Code and Value Sets
• Make Standards (Code Sets, Content, Services) Open to Implement Without Licensing Costs
• Develop Patient-centered Workflows and Standards
• Create Standardized Member ID
• Name an Attachment Standard
• Establish Regular Review of Prior Authorization Rules
• Establish Standards for Prior Authorization Workflows
• Create Extension and Renewal Mechanism for Authorizations
• Include the Patient in Prior Authorization\
• Establish Patient Authentication and Authorization to Support Consent
• Establish Test Data Capability to Support Interoperability

The recommendations pave a path to improved information exchange across the clinical and business aspects of the nation’s healthcare system, and HHS is already taking steps to advance them.

For more information: Read the final report with details of the ideal state, guiding principles, and recommendations.

Source: HealthITBuzz blog