Fact Sheet: The 21st Century Cures Act and Information Blocking

Introduction:

The 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law in 2016, aims to accelerate medical innovation and improve patient access to their healthcare data. This fact sheet focuses on a key provision of the Act: the prohibition of information blocking.

What is Information Blocking?

Information blocking refers to practices that prevent or hinder the secure exchange of electronic health information (EHI) among healthcare providers and patients. This can include:

• Technical restrictions: Incompatibility between electronic health record (EHR) systems from different vendors.
• Locking features: Limiting patient access to their own medical records.
• Excessive fees: Charging unreasonable amounts for data exchange.

Why is Information Blocking a Problem?

Information blocking can hinder:

• Care coordination: Complete patient information is crucial for smooth transitions between providers and ensuring coordinated care.
• Patient engagement: Access to their own health data empowers patients to make informed decisions about their care.
• Research and innovation: Limited data sharing hinders research efforts to improve healthcare outcomes.

The Cures Act and Information Blocking:

The Act prohibits information blocking and establishes the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) to enforce these regulations. The ONC defines exceptions for reasonable and necessary activities, such as protecting patient privacy or preventing security breaches.

What This Means for Nurses:

• Improved care coordination: Nurses will have easier access to a patient’s complete medical history from different providers, enabling more informed care decisions.
• Enhanced patient engagement: Educating patients about their right to access their health information empowers them to be active participants in their care.
• Potential for streamlined workflows: Reduced information blocking may lead to more efficient data exchange, saving nurses time previously spent tracking down missing information.

Resources:

• Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC): https://www.healthit.gov/
• Information Blocking: https://www.healthit.gov/topic/information-blocking

Conclusion:

The 21st Century Cures Act’s focus on information blocking empowers nurses to deliver better care through improved access to patient data and promotes patient engagement in their healthcare journey.