The ONC must refocus its role as a coordinator — rather than a regulator — of health IT, the coalition Health IT Now wrote in a May 31 letter to HHS Secretary Tom Price, MD.
The coalition of patient groups, provider organizations, health payers and health IT companies said the ONC must target its efforts at promoting interoperability, improving quality of care and preventing information blocking.
"The use of technology in healthcare can lower costs and improve care quality by putting timely and actionable information into the hands of providers," Health IT Now wrote. "Unfortunately, this promise is largely unrealized, due in part to past micromanagement, reporting burdens and other hardships placed on providers to ensure their Meaningful Use of technology."
One of the coalition's key suggestions was to reduce regulatory barriers for health IT services by limiting the ONC certification program and rescinding the ONC Enhanced Oversight and Accountability final rule.
"Recent actions taken by ONC not only overstep statutory authority, but show dedication to mission creep rather than the core directive from Congress: achieve interoperability and do so quickly," Health IT Now wrote.
Click here to view the full letter.