Interoperability Matters » Information Blocking Compliance Workgroup

Interoperability Matters

Information Blocking Compliance Workgroup

Experts across a wide range stakeholders types assembled to facilitate a constructive information blocking dialogue.

Workgroup Resources
Workgroup Subgroups
2021 Meeting Schedule: Bimonthly, 2nd Fridays starting 2/12/2021, 12:00-1:30pm ET

A Discussion of Policies and Exceptions Outlined in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT’s (ONC) Proposed Rule

This workgroup is focused is on the practical implications of the proposed rule, as well as unintended consequences. Given the varied perspectives involved, we recognize that consensus may not always be possible. As a result, we look to capture varied perspectives to inform the group’s process and hopefully improve understanding across the stakeholders.
workgroup charter

Stakeholders

  • Hospitals
  • Provider organizations
  • Safety net providers
  • Clinicians Informaticists
  • HIM professionals
  • Consumers Health information networks (regional/nationwide)
  • Governmental agencies
  • Vendors
  • Legal
  • Privacy and policy experts

RELEASED REPORT

Final Report on ONC March 2019 Proposed Rule

In April 2019, the Interoperability Matters Information Blocking Workgroup hosted an open, public update with interested industry and government stakeholders and solicit feedback to inform their work. The final report submitted to ONC is now available.

Download

RELEASED PUBLICATION

Information Blocking Guidanceto the Health IT Community

In advance of the publication of the final information blocking rules, The Sequoia Project has released the Information Blocking Workgroup’s “Guidance to the Community and Implementation Feedback to HHS.”

Download

Three Work Phases

The Interoperability Matters Leadership Council, chartered the Information Blocking Compliance Workgroup to work in the following phases:

Phase I: Provide input into Sequoia comments to ONC on proposed rule

March 14, 2019
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Interoperability Matters Overview, Information Blocking Proposed Rule: Overview and Workgroup Scope

March 19, 2019
Information Blocking & You – Public Advisory Forum
Slides | Recording

March 25, 2019 – 12:30 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Actors & Others Definitions (Providers, CEHRT Developers, HIEs, HINs), Information Blocking Practice, Exceptions 1-3 (Harm, Privacy, Security)

March 29, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Interoperability Matters Leadership Council

April 3, 2019 – 1:00 p.m.
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Exceptions 4-7 (Recovering costs reasonably incurred, Declining to provide access, exchange, or use of EHI if request is infeasible, Licensing technologies or other interoperable elements, Making health IT unavailable to perform maintenance or improvements), Conditions & Maintenance of Certification: Information Blocking, RFIs: disincentives for providers and price transparency, Complaints & Enforcement

April 5, 2019
Public Advisory Forum
Slides | Recording

April 15, 2019
Joint Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting &
Public Advisory Forum Call #3 to Review Draft Report
Slides | Recording

April 22, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Interoperability Matters Leadership Council

May 23, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum – Cancelled

May 31, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Interoperability Matters Leadership Council

Phase II: Identify practical, implementation-level implications of proposed and final information blocking rules, which may or may not be consensus positions.

June 20, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Phase I Update: Review CMS & ONC Comments & Phase II: Proposed Workplan

July 30, 2019 – 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Interoperability Leadership Council

August 2, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: HIE/HIN Definitions

August 21, 2019 – 5:15 p.m. ET (Washington, DC)
Joint Leadership Council #6 & Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting and Networking Reception
Agenda: Information Blocking Workgroup; Update Interoperability Matters Prioritization; and Member Resources

September 6, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Interoperability Matters Public Advisory Forum

September 13, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Information Blocking Practices

October 11, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Recovering Costs/RAND Licensing

October 18, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Leadership Council 
Agenda: RCE, Proposed Workgroups

November 1, 2019 – 1:00 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum
Agenda: Information Blocking, TEFCA

November 8, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Compliance Plans

December 13, 2019 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

December 16, 2019 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum
Agenda: Information Blocking, TEFCA

Phase III: Facilitate ongoing discussions to clarify information blocking policies and considerations prior to and after the Final Rule. Focus on implementation and compliance implications of ONC Final Rule.

January 10, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting
Agenda: Phase II Deliverable Status, Implementation planning – Phase III Initial Work

February 14, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting – Cancelled

March 20, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting                                                                                                                                                                       Agenda: Review ONC Final Rule, Implementation Planning & Additional Phase 3 Priorities

March 25, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Leadership Council – Members Only
Information Blocking Final Rules

March 31, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum
Information Blocking Final Rules

April 10, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting                                                                                                                                                              Agenda: Continued Review ONC Final Rule, Implementation Planning & Additional Phase 3 Priorities

April 17, 2020 – 2:00 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum
Information Blocking Final Rules (follow up session)

May 8, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting                                                                                                                                                                        Agenda: Enforcement Discretion & OIG Proposed Rule, Priority Questions, and Implementation & Compliance Resources

May 19, 2020 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Leadership Council

June 11, 2020 – 2:00-3:00 ET
Public Advisory Forum
Perspectives on the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) Proposed Rule on Information Blocking Enforcement and Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs)

June 12, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

July 10, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

July 23, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum
Download Slides | View Recording

August 14, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

September 11, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

September 22, 2020 – 2:30 p.m. ET
Public Advisory Forum
Download Slides | View Recording

October 9, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

November 13, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

December 11, 2020 – 12:00 p.m. ET
Information Blocking Workgroup Meeting

2021 Meeting Schedule: Bimonthly, 2nd Fridays starting 2/12/2021, 12:00-1:30pm ET

Information Blocking Compliance Workgroup Roster

If you would like to receive more information about this work group, contact us.

Associations and Orgs – Health IT Community

Jeff Coughlin, HIMSS

Lauren Riplinger, AHIMA

Scott Stuewe, DirectTrust

Samantha Burch, AHA

Matt Reid, AMA

Andrew Tomlinson, CHIME

Consumers

Ryan Howells, CARIN Alliance

Deven McGraw, Ciitizen

Health Information Networks and Service Providers

Melissa Soliz, Midwest Health Connect

Alan Swenson, Carequality

Ammon Fillmore, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Co-chair

Developers

Cherie Holmes-Henry, EHRA/Nextgen

Alya Sulaiman, Epic

Josh Mast, Cerner

Jennifer Stoll, OCHIN

Rita Bowen, MROCorp

Susan Kohler, Greenway Health

Health Providers/Physicians

Paul Uhrig, Bassett Healthcare Network, Co-Chair

David Camitta, CommonSpirit

Eric Liederman, Kaiser Permanente

Payers

Nancy Beavin, Humana

Danielle Lloyd, AHIP

Matthew Schuller, BCBSA

Federal Government

Steve Bounds, SSA

Interested in the additional benefits of The Sequoia Project membership?

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2021 Meeting Shedule

Bimonthly, every 2nd Friday starting 2/12, 12:00-1:30pm ET

This webinar will cover important discussion topics. Members of this workgroup receive access to a community area where discussions can continue in an online forum. They can also access meeting materials, and more.

Meetings & Materials

Information Blocking ComplianceWorkgroup

Subgroups

Health Care Providers
Health IT Developers
HINs/HIEs

Subgroup Kickoff Call: January 26, 2021, 3-4pm ET

The workgroup established the following subgroups to reflect the issues facing distinct actor categories (as defined in the ONC Final Rule) or other communities affected by the ONC Final Rule, the OIG Proposed Rule and future rulemaking activity related to information blocking.

Subgroup activities and deliverables will include:

  • Working discussions that drill down into specific issues by actor (or other applicable) community;
  • Findings and recommendations;
  • Guidance/best practices; Questions for ONC and other applicable federal agencies;
  • Collaboration with other Subgroups on issues of mutual interest; and
  • Presentation by the Subgroup Chairs of deliverables and recommendations to the Workgroup.

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