The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health Information Technology issued its final rule addressing Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: Certification Program Updates, Algorithm Transparency, and Information Sharing (HTI-1) at the end of 2023.

The rule includes "first of its kind" transparency requirements for artificial intelligence and other predictive algorithms that are part of certified health information technology (IT). It also adopts the United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Version 3 as the new baseline standard within the ONC Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program) as of Jan. 1, 2026; revises certain information blocking definitions and exceptions to support information sharing; and implements the 21st Century Cures Act's requirement to adopt a Condition of Certification for developers of certified health IT to report certain metrics as part of their participation in the Certification Program.

Meanwhile, in January, the ACC submitted comments in response to CMS' proposed rule for the establishment of disincentives for health care providers that commit information blocking. The College called on CMS to focus on education and corrective action rather than punitive measures for all but the most egregious cases of information blocking and expressed concerns about the lack of a firm appeals process.

Clinical Topics: Cardiovascular Care Team, Prevention, Stress

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, Financial Stress, United States Dept. of Health and Human Services, Algorithms, Health Policy, Artificial Intelligence