The Information Blocking Final Rule, which took effect on April 5, 2021, defines information blocking as a practice that interferes, prevents, or discourages access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI). Under this rule, physicians are required to respond to any legitimate request to exchange or provide access to EHI stored in their EHR.
**The 'Information Blocking Rule Learning Session Resources’ is only available to CHCANYS' members. If you are a member, please sign in or create an account to access.**
General Information
- Information Blocking – What is it, Examples, and Exceptions to the Rule
- ONC Chief Delves into Everything You Want to Know About Information Blocking Rule
ONC Resources
- ONC Information Blocking FAQ 2022
- ONC Final Rule: Info Blocking
- ONC Information Blocking General FAQ
- ONC What the Info Blocking Rule means for Clinicians
- ONC What the Info Blocking Rule means for Developers
AMA Resources
eCW
- eClinicalWorks developer facing resources
- eClinicalWorks provider facing resources (must sign on to my.eclinicalworks to view)
athenahealth
- Developer facing resources
- API developers portal
- Provider facing resources (must sign on to AthenaNet):
- Resource Overview: 21st Century Cures Act
- FAQs: Certification and the 21st Century Cures Act: Interoperability, Information Blocking, and the ONC Health IT Certification Program
- athena experts answering 21st Century Cures Act Questions
- Discuss the recent compliance date extensions and answering questions about the 21st Century Cures Act
nextgen
- Developer facing resources
- API Marketplace
- Provider facing resources including FAQ document, white paper, and webinars (must sign on to Nextgen Success Community)
Medent
- Developer Resources
- Provider Facing Resources
Cures Act Overview and “Ask The Experts” Sessions
This foundational webinar kicks off the series covering the basics of the Cures Act- what the Act is, why you need to know about it and what you need to know. This presentation will assist health center staff with:
- Understanding and employing Cures Act terminology (e.g., info blocking, info sharing, exceptions)
- Describing how the Cures Act impacts your organization and your role
- Articulating requirements for compliance and the penalties of noncompliance
- Identifying additional Cures Act-related resources to support your organization
Following the webinar, an interactive “Ask the Experts” session will provide an opportunity for attendees to ask general questions about the Cures Act. This session is ideal for all health center staff who need to develop a fundamental understanding of the Cures Act and information blocking.
OpenNotes Overview and “Ask The Experts” Sessions
This webinar explores considerations related to the sharing of electronic health information and key requirements of the Cures Act that go into effect October 6, 2022. This session looks at information sharing through the lens of OpenNotes, an international movement promoting and studying transparent communication in healthcare. This presentation will assist health center staff with:
- Explaining the risks and benefits of easy patient access to electronic health information
- Assisting in the development of methods and materials that explain notes to patients and how they can access them
- Contributing to the improvement of workflows that anticipate the changes needed to maximize this transparency
- Recognizing the requirements of the Cures Act, including the exceptions it creates to sharing notes
Following the webinar, an interactive “Ask the Experts” session provided an opportunity for attendees to ask general questions about OpenNotes.
Information Blocking Exceptions Overview and “Ask The Experts” Sessions
This webinar dives into the complexities of the eight information blocking exceptions – the activities defined by the ONC that do not constitute information blocking under the Cures Act. This session is relevant for providers, nursing staff, health center leadership, compliance officers and HIM and IT professionals who need to understand how to appropriately apply the information blocking exceptions. Following the webinar, an interactive “Ask the Experts” session provided an opportunity for attendees to ask general questions about information blocking exceptions.
HIT Compliance Overview and “Ask The Experts” Sessions
This session shifts from knowledge to application as we focus on specific steps you can take to support your center’s compliance with Cures Act regulatory requirements. This session focuses on identifying and addressing operational compliance gaps within your organization primarily from a health information technology (HIT) perspective. This webinar and Ask The Experts sessions will assist health center staff with understanding how roles in the organization are affected by the regulatory requirements, recognizing how the requirements impact their organization's HIT-related processes and technology, and determining key HIT-related activities needed to bring the organization into compliance. This session is relevant for all IT staff.
External Compliance Overview and “Ask The Experts” Sessions
This session continues the conversation around specific steps you can take to support your center’s compliance with Cures Act regulatory requirements. This session focuses on identifying and addressing operational compliance gaps outside your organization primarily from a health information technology (HIT) perspective. This webinar and two Ask The Experts sessions will assist health center staff with understanding how roles in the organization are affected by the regulatory requirements, recognizing how the requirements impact their organization's HIT-related processes and technology, and determining key HIT-related activities needed to bring the organization into compliance. This session is relevant for all providers, HIM, HIT, and compliance staff.
Cures Act In Your Practice- Applying the Tools
If you’re ready to use the tools provided during the Cures Act Compliance Series, but aren’t sure where to start, please join us for this session focused on actionable next steps. This practical program will cover:
- Lessons Learned: Applying the Cures Act Compliance Readiness Checklist– Barbara Salcedo, MPH, VIP Community Solutions
- Best Practices for Piloting Open Notes – John Santa, MD, MPH and Amy Fellows, MPH, OpenNotes leaders
- Recommendations for Cures Act Compliance Staff Training – Denise Webb, MA, CPHIMS, Health IT Executive Advisor, Pivot Point Consulting
Cures Act In Your Practice: Fostering Engagement
It takes more than completing a checklist to achieve Cures Act compliance; success also requires buy-in and support from members of your organization at all levels. In this session, Pivot Point will explore change leadership and patient engagement strategies that can help providers and staff make the transition to compliance.
HITEQ Webinar Information Sharing vs. Information Blocking: How to be Compliant with CURES (June 10, 2021)
During this webinar, the HITEQ Center discusses the changing landscape of electronic health information sharing in the context of the 21st Century CURES act and information blocking. The focus of this discussion centered on what health centers should do now that the April 5, 2021 compliance deadline has passed and what health centers should do when patients ask for their medical records.
This checklist can be used by your center to assess your current readiness to comply with the Cures Act as well as identify gaps in compliance.