The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has released Common Agreement Version 2.0 on April 22, which requires health information networks participating in the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement to support the Health Level Seven Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources standard.
The adoption of this standard will simplify the process of securely exchanging information between health care organizations, making it easier for patients to access their health care information through digital health apps. Additionally, ONC has also made enhancements such as simplified onboarding for clinicians and end users, making it more accessible to everyone involved in healthcare interoperability.
In February, ONC designated CommonWell Health Alliance and Kno2 as Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs). This designation means that seven QHINs are now able to electronically exchange health information nationwide under TEFCA, a set of common rules for secure exchange of treatment and other health information as required by the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016. This designation promotes interoperability and paves the way for more efficient sharing of health information across different organizations and platforms.
