Information Blocking
Compliance Resource Center

Compliance with the Information Blocking provisions of the ONC Final Rule for all Actors (Developers of Certified Health IT, HIEs/HINs, and Providers) is required as of April 5, 2021, following a recent delay announced by ONC in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Compliance with ONC’s Info Blocking Rule for All Actors is in Effect Now

Compliance was extended from November 2, 2020 in an Interim Final Rule with Comment Period released by ONC on October 29, 2020. The timing of enforcement is less clear. The HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will not finalize its enforcement timetable for Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs) for Developers and HIEs/HINs pending a forthcoming Final Rule (based on an April 24, 2020 Proposed Rule). The OIG’s primary timing proposal was for enforcement to begin 60 days after publication of a Final Rule, but no earlier than the ONC compliance date (now extended by five months). This proposal is subject to change.

For Developers

ONC has announced a three months enforcement discretion period for information blocking certification provisions (and other certification provisions in its Final Rule). This enforcement discretion does not now affect information blocking compliance or the OIG CMP timetable.

For Developers

As of October 29, 2020, ONC has extended by two months its initial three months enforcement discretion period for information blocking certification provisions (and other certification provisions in its Final Rule).

For Providers

(Who are not subject to ONC oversight or OIG CMPs)

Enforcement timing will depend on forthcoming (but not yet scheduled) rulemaking that will address additional information blocking “disincentives” for Providers as well as the federal agencies to which OIG will refer Provider-focused information blocking complaints.

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In the face of this uncertainty, and with recognition of the complexity of implementation and compliance planning, a rapidly approaching compliance date, and the acute need for wide data access, The Sequoia Project believes it prudent for organizations subject to the information blocking regulation to target their preparedness efforts on April 5.