Statement From AHIMA CEO on ONC’s Delay of Information Blocking Rule Compliance Deadline

“The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) supports efforts from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to ensure that individuals can access, exchange, and use electronic health information. However, we welcome ONC’s six-month delay of the compliance deadline for its Information Blocking rule. 

“The rule was scheduled to go into effect on November 2, but ONC has delayed this compliance deadline until April 5, 2021. We feel this is a prudent decision, as the reallocation of resources due to the COVID-19 pandemic has made it challenging for many health information professionals to ensure their institutions are sufficiently in compliance by November 2. 

“Ensuring that patients have seamless, timely, electronic access to their health information regardless of where that information travels will continue to be a top priority for health information professionals. The six-month delay allows them additional time to see that their institutions’ policies and procedures are in place to fully enable the access, exchange, and use of electronic health information. We thank ONC for being cognizant of the realities health information professionals are encountering during the COVID-19 pandemic.” 

Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE, CEO of AHIMA

Source: AHIMA