Question

Describe and explain the background of ONC and Healthcare IT Legislation.

Answer 1

Ans) There are many provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) that will improve the flow and exchange of electronic health information.

- ONC is responsible for implementing those parts of Title IV, delivery, related to advancing interoperability, prohibiting information blocking, and enhancing the usability, accessibility, and privacy and security of health IT.

- ONC works to ensure that all individuals, their families and their health care providers have appropriate access to electronic health information to help improve the overall health of the nation’s population.

- In addition to supporting medical research, advancing interoperability, clarifying HIPAA privacy rules, and supporting substance abuse and mental health services, the Cures Act defines interoperability as the ability exchange and use electronic health information without special effort on the part of the user and as not constituting information blocking.

- ONC focuses on the following provisions as we implement the Cures Act:

Section 4001: Health IT Usability
Section 4002(a): Conditions of Certification
Section 4003(b): Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement
Section 4003(c): Health Information Technology Advisory Committee
Section 4004: Identifying reasonable and necessary activities that do not constitute information blocking.
- ONC is also supporting and collaborating with our federal partners, such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the HHS Office of Civil Rights, the HHS Inspector General, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the National Institute for Standards and Technology.