The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today released a proposed rule for public comment that would establish disincentives for healthcare providers found by the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) to have committed information blocking—when a provider knowingly and unreasonably interferes with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information except as required by law or covered by a regulatory exception. The proposed rule, which reflects contributions from throughout the department, implements the HHS Secretary’s authority under section 4004 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act).
