When the Office of National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC) released the initial information blocking rules in 2020, it plainly stated that “ONC has no authority to set requirements, incentives, or penalties for health care providers related to the use of health [information technology].” While the initial information blocking rules established the foundation for what constitutes information blocking, they were “toothless” for healthcare providers. There has been no true enforcement mechanism since April 5, 2021—until now.

In his article for the September/October issue of the Metro Omaha Medical Society's Physicians Bulletin, Jake Walker examines the evolving landscape of information blocking regulations. He discusses the recent introduction of specific disincentives for certain healthcare providers, effective July 31, 2024. Jake explains how information blocking can impede patient access to their health information and underscores the importance of understanding the exceptions to these regulations. He encourages providers to proactively evaluate their practices to ensure compliance with the updated requirements.

Read his full article at the link below.

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