Source: Health Data Management
The year started with the publication of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule in January. In February, we saw the adoption of the final rule modifying the Confidentiality of Substance Use Disorder Patient Record regulation at 42 CFR Part 2 by the Department for Health and Human Services via the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) or the Office of Civil Rights (OCR).
A couple months later, in April, the HIPAA Privacy Rule to Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy Final Rule was published. Then in July, we saw the publication of the newly rebranded Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) proposed HTI-2 rule. These regulatory initiatives can be divided into two key buckets – interoperability and patient privacy. This should not be a huge surprise, because these have always been the two core focuses of healthcare regulation in the United States.