Improving seamless, secure public health data exchange between health care and public health remains a key goal of data modernization efforts aimed at ensuring public health agencies (PHAs) have access to timely, accurate data needed to inform…
Empowering patients by improving secure, convenient access to their health records remains a top federal priority. In 2020, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) / Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/…
In 2024, an estimated 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the US (1). As of January 2022, there were an estimated 18.1 million cancer survivors in the US, which is projected to increase to 22.5 million by 2032 (1). For cancer…
A critical provision of the 21st Century Cures Act, the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common AgreementTM (TEFCATM) was published in 2022. The purpose is to facilitate nationwide connectivity by enabling the exchange of electronic health information…
State immunization information systems (IIS), also known as immunization registries, are population-based databases that record vaccinations administered by participating health care providers in a given state (1). Most states require providers to…
Patient use of their health information accessible to them through online tools (e.g., patient portals and smartphone apps) can help empower them to make informed decisions about their health and track progress on health-related goals, potentially…
Social determinants of health refers to social factors and physical conditions of the environment in which people are born, live, learn, work, and play (e.g., employment, education, social and community context) that affect health and quality-of-…
As of January 2022, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) that participate in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Medicare Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program are required to electronically submit data to…
Hospitals play an important role in support of public health functions by contributing timely and accurate data to state and local public health agencies (PHAs). However, the COVID-19 pandemic revealed substantive gaps in our public health…
Over the past several years, federal policy levers have been enacted to increase patient’s access to their health information. In 2014, hospitals were incentivized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Electronic Health Record (…
In May 2020, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) finalized federal rulemaking that aimed to increase the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information by patients and their caregivers (1). This rule implements key…
Amidst a global pandemic, the need for efficient exchange of electronic health information between
hospitals and public health agencies has never been more critical. To ensure public health agencies have
timely and complete data…
A patient’s access to their health information is required and reinforced through multiple federal policy
levers. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) Health IT
Certification Program certifies health…
![Variation in Methods for Health Information Management among U.S. Substance Abuse Treatment Centers, 2017 [pdf]](/sites/default/files/2021-07/substance-abuse-treatment-center-health-information-management-2017.png)
More than 20 million Americans suffer from a substance use disorder (SUD) each year. For these individuals, treatment is designed to help stop or reduce harmful substance misuse, improve health and social function, and manage risk for relapse.…
Nearly 40 percent of individuals will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime. For these individuals, access, exchange, and use of electronic health information is critical to managing their complex health needs. Patient access to…
EPCS is beneficial because it can help providers integrate prescription drug information into electronic health records (EHRs) more directly, which can improve patient safety and reduce diversion and fraud. This brief uses data from the 2017…
The access, exchange, and use of electronic health information is essential for individuals to better manage their health care needs and share information with their providers and caregivers. Many hospitals and physicians possess capabilities that…
With widespread adoption of EHRs, policy is now shifting towards the use of EHR data. EHR data can improve patient care by giving providers access to evidence based tools that assist with decision making and facilitating clinical practice by…