HHS proposes policies to discourage electronic health information blocking 

The Department of Health and Human Services Oct. 30 released a proposed rule intended to create disincentives for health care providers to interfere with the access, exchange or use of electronic health information. Under the rule, which implements a provision of the 21st Century Cures Act, health care providers that HHS’ Office of Inspector General determines have committed information blocking and refers that determination to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services would be ineligible for certain incentives under the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program and Shared Savings Program, HHS said. The agency will publish the proposed rule in the Nov. 1 Federal Register with comments accepted through Jan. 2.