Health-care providers are facing penalties for blocking access to a patient’s electronic health information under a Biden administration rule announced Monday. The US Department of Health and Human Services final rule (RIN: 0955 - AA05) penalizes hospitals in the Medicare Promoting Interoperability Program that block health information sharing by stripping their meaningful electronic health record user status. “Meaningful use” carries financial incentives. Hospitals that commit “information blocking” can be prevented from earning 75% of their annual market based increase. Accountable Care Organization health providers caught blocking information may be banned from the Medicare Shared Savings Program for at least a year, cutting off a revenue stream. Penalties apply to providers that the HHS Inspector General determines have “committed information blocking,” according to the rule.

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