In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act put the spotlight on healthcare’s need for increased interoperability. When Final Rules were passed in March, their goal was to enforce the Act’s mandates as quickly as possible. Now, COVID-19 has not only highlighted the urgent need for this data sharing, but has also taxed health systems like never before.
Even prior to the pandemic, the Rules set forth an ambitious timeline for compliance with the new regulations – a mere six months for certain elements. In early spring, some health systems were already raising concerns that this time frame was too aggressive, arguing that they placed institutions with fewer resources at a disadvantage.
In IMO’s latest white paper, we take a look at how COVID-19 has impacted the implementation of the Cures Act – from adjusting the due dates, to underscoring the critical importance of increasing and improving data sharing as quickly as possible.
