Price: Push for Interoperability Continues

The Trump administration will continue to push interoperability in order to promote the growth of health information technology and electronic health records, according to HHS Secretary Dr. Tom Price.  

An article in Modern Healthcare says Price sent a letter to Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) to elaborate on policy positions he'd given during his congressional confirmation process. In the letter, Price cites the important role that electronic information sharing plays in the efficient and effective care delivery. Patients and providers often rely on the fast exchange of relevant, trustworthy information across health IT systems.  

"Methods to improve flexibility and patient engagement, and clear the way for increased health IT interoperability should be examined as we work to improve healthcare delivery," Price said.

Direct messaging is a collection of electronic health information exchange standards and implementation specifications developed in a collaboration between private-sector participants and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at HHS.

Various organisations have called for reforms in the health sector. For example, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) has sent a letter to the Trump administration with proposals for health IT program reforms. Among them are the requirements to simplify existing programs outlined in the 21st Century Cures Act, which passed last year.

Notably the ONC, which was the venue for most of rule writing related to health IT under the Obama administration, is without a Trump-appointed leader.

"We're very hopeful in this environment of deregulation and reducing administrative burden that the secretary will address some of the key issues that affect physicians,” said Robert Tennant, a health IT adviser at the MGMA.

Source: Modern Healthcare
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