AHA to ONC/CMS: Implement current programs, avoid new regulations

Instead of layering on additional regulations for exchanges, the American Hospital Association (AHA) urged the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) and the Office of the National Commissioner for Health IT (ONC) to focus on facilitating the implementation of payment and delivery programs already underway in Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Meaningful Use EHR incentive programs.

The AHA’s comments, published in an April 19 letter, came in response to the two agencies’ request for information on advancing interoperability and health information exchange published in the March 7 Federal Register.

“Adding specific health information exchange requirements risks significant unintended consequences, including forcing use of tools that are not suited to local conditions, duplicating approaches to sharing data and increasing reporting burden,” according to the letter.

The association also recommended that ONC step up efforts to eliminate barriers to interoperability and develop a robust infrastructure for health information exchange.

Specifically, it suggested that the agency focus on the following activities: ensure that EHRs support information exchange; cultivate effective and affordable exchange networks; develop provider directories; support successful adoption and use of standards by providers; address the patient-matching problem; and reduce policy barriers to exchange, such as consent and privacy rules that vary by state.

The letter in its entirety is here.