ONC finalizes certain deregulatory actions related to health data, technology, interoperability

The Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology issued a final rule Oct. 26 regarding health data, technology and interoperability. The HTI-5 final rule finalized the removal of 14 certification criteria instead of 34 as previously proposed and revised seven others. Notably, the agency reduced the scope of the “decision support interventions” certification criteria to remove artificial intelligence “model card” requirements. The timing for removal or revision of criteria varies based on the individual criterion (13 are effective as of the date of final rule, seven are effective as of Jan. 1, 2027, and one is effective as of Jan. 1, 2030). The agency did not finalize proposals to remove privacy and security certification criteria and will consider updates to those criteria in future rulemaking. Comments submitted in response to the HTI-5 proposed rule’s information blocking provisions also remain under consideration for future rulemaking. Additionally, the agency finalized the removal of references to the “Assistant Secretary of Technology Policy” in accordance with the 2024 reorganization of IT services.