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IMPORTANT: ONC Cures Act Final Rule re: Patient Access to Medical Records being implemented

Posted about 3 years ago by Victoria Eftychiou in In the News

Empowering Patients with Their Health Record in a Modern Health IT Economy

The patient is at the center of the 21st Century Cures Act. Putting patients in charge of their health records is a key piece of patient control in health care, and patient control is at the center of HHS' work toward a value-based health care system.

The ONC Cures Act Final Rule implements interoperability requirements outlined in the Cures Act. Patients need more power in their health care, and access to information is key to making that happen.

Putting the patient first in health technology enables the health care system to deliver:

  • Transparency into the cost and outcomes of their care
  • Competitive options in getting medical care
  • Modern smartphone apps to provide them convenient access to their records
  • An app economy that provides patients, physicians, hospitals, payers, and employers with innovation and choice.
    For more information with a detailed TIMELINE  see:

https://www.healthit.gov/curesrule/overview/about-oncs-cures-act-final-rule

Below are remarks from Joan Zaccardi, DrNP,APN, FNAP Treasurer and AANP NJ Representative:

2021 CURES Act requirements 

Patient information protection rules have changed. Now the federal government is requiring you to share patient information OR ELSE.

There are only a few weeks left before you must comply with the 21st Century Cures Act (also called information blocking). This new federal rule requires that you MUST make electronic health information (EHI) available to patients and others securely, at no cost, without delay. The final rule requires substantial changes to your practice's technology, HIPAA policies and procedures and even clinical workflows.

You only have until April 5th, 2021 to comply with Cures Act mandates.

Posted by:

V. Eftychiou, APN
Director of Communications/Website Management