HHS proposes ‘powerful’ penalties for providers found information blocking

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has proposed a rule that could shake things up in healthcare. They’ve proposed linking Medicare payments to how well healthcare providers share important health info electronically. In simple terms, if providers don’t collaborate and hinder the sharing of health data, they could get hit with penalties. That means less money, lower quality scores, and potentially even missing out on some value-based programs.

This proposal lines up with the 21st Century Cures Act, all about stopping the not-so-friendly practice of information blocking. It’s a big deal, making penalties a real thing. And it’s not just about one Medicare program; it involves others like the Merit-based Incentive Payment System.

This proposal could lead to fewer rewards and even being left out. HHS is also planning to call out the names of the ones guilty of information blocking, showing how important it is for different parts of the healthcare system to share info smoothly.

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