The Sequoia Project Announces Anti-Information Blocking Support for Health Care and HIT Communities

New Virtual Training Program and Free Public Resource Center Unveiled

The Sequoia Project, a nonprofit dedicated to solving HIT interoperability for the public good, recently launched new resources and training for the health care and HIT communities preparing for the November 2, 2020, deadline to comply with U.S. Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) information blocking and interoperability rules. The program includes a 13-week Information Blocking Compliance Boot Camp and a free public resource center.

In 2018–2019, ONC issued drafts and proposed rules to implement the Cures Act. The information blocking aspects of the rules were finalized in March 2020 and dramatically reshaped the US interoperability landscape, enabling broader access to data by patients, their designees, and providers while creating sweeping new compliance requirements across the US health care system. This also provides competitive opportunities for innovative health care organizations and HIT developers. Compliance for the information blocking provisions of the ONC Interoperability Final Rule for all actors (including developers of certified HIT, health information exchanges, health information networks and providers) is required by November 2, 2020.

The new, web-based Information Blocking Compliance Resource Center features dozens of free tools, checklists, reports, and webinars from The Sequoia Project and its partners.

The Sequoia Project’s Information Blocking Compliance Boot Camp will provide an in-depth study of the rules and practical steps to develop and implement effective implementation plans and compliance measures. The boot camp will consist of 13 weeks of virtual meetings, alternating weekly between 120-minute interactive classroom lectures and discussions, and 60-minute open office hours with subject matter experts for student-initiated discussion. All participants will also receive the exclusive boot camp toolkit, including practical tools for implementation and compliance. The boot camp provides the opportunity for participants to engage each other in discussing the information blocking rule and compliance.

Beginning on August 26, 2020, the boot camp is free for full members of The Sequoia Project (with discount code), and $3,750 per organization, regardless of number of staff attending, for associate members and nonmembers.

“In this unique time of the pandemic, we know our members and the rest of the health care community are stretched thin,” says Mariann Yeager, CEO of The Sequoia Project. “We hope these free tools and value-priced training program will outline practical, implementation-focused steps to preparing to meet the November 2nd compliance deadline.”

Source: The Sequoia Project