WEDI Submits Comments on HTI-5 Proposed Rule and AI RFI. WEDI submitted comments to the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP)/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) on both the “Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity” (HTI-5) proposed rule and “Accelerating the Adoption and Use of Artificial Intelligence as Part of Clinical Care” request for information (AI RFI). The HTI-5 proposed rule calls for deregulatory actions to update the ONC Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program) to remove redundant requirements, better promote electronic health information exchange and prevent information blocking, and advance AI-enabled interoperability solutions. WEDI’s comments made multiple recommendations on proposals to remove or revise Certification Program criteria and revise definitions.
The AI RFI called for feedback from the industry on how regulation, reimbursement, and research and development can be applied to accelerate the adoption and use of AI in clinical care. WEDI’s comments addressed needs for establishing trust in AI technology, ensuring transparency in the specifics of the AI technology function, maintaining data privacy and security, defining the role of regulation and innovation, and enhancing education of the users.
To develop WEDI’s comments, separate Member Position Advisory (MPA) events were held to review the HTI-5 proposals and AI RFI questions. A special thanks to the facilitators at these events – Merri-Lee Stine (Aetna, a CVS Company, WEDI Board Chair), Denny Brennan (MHDC, WEDI Board Chair-Elect), Pam Grosze (PNC Bank, WEDI Policy Vice Chair), Matthew Albright (Zelis, WEDI Board Director), Terry Cunningham (AHA, WEDI Board Director), Gail Kocher (BCBSA, WEDI Board Director), Samantha Meklir (MGMA, WEDI Board Director), Michael Pattwell (Edifecs, a Cotiviti Business, WEDI Board Director), Samantha Burch (AHIP), Jen Holloman (AHA), Shannon Curtis (AMA), Michelle Knighton (NextGen), Ross Martin, MD (Point of Care Partners), Matt Reid (AMA), and Cara Wahmann (HCSC). Thanks, as well to the many WEDI members who participated in the MPAs and provided valuable feedback that we were able to include in our comment letters.
NCVHS, a Key HHS FACA Advisory Group, Reconvenes. The National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics (NCVHS) has reconvened, per the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. Established in 1949, NCVHS provides advice and assistance on key health data issues related to community and population health, standards, privacy and confidentiality, quality, and data access and use. It reports regularly to Congress on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) implementation and serves as a forum for interaction between the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and interested private sector groups. The NCVHS is governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). All the previous members of the NCVHS were replaced with the current roster of members now available on the website. No dates have been posted for future meetings.
President Identifies Health Care Priorities in State of the Union. President Trump called out specific health care priorities for maximizing price transparency, reducing drug prices, and combatting fraud, with his “Great Healthcare Plan” in the annual State of the Union address. While there was no specific mention of the use of health information technology, maximizing price transparency relies on technology to post machine- and human-readable pricing files and exchange information among patients, providers, and payers for care cost estimates. In a White House event following the State of the Union, the Administration announced new steps it is taking to crack down on fraud in Medicare and Medicaid to protect patients and taxpayers and improve the affordability of health care.
CISA Announces Town Hall Meetings on CIRCIA. The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced upcoming virtual town hall meetings on the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on April 4, 2024. The purpose of the town halls is to allow external stakeholders a limited additional opportunity to provide input on refining the scope and burden of the CIRCIA proposed rule. The Healthcare and Public Health sector’s town hall will be held on March 17 at 11 am ET and registration is required. Two additional general session virtual town halls will be held on March 31 and April 2. Note: Due to a lapse in DHS appropriations, CISA may be unable to hold the CIRCIA Town Halls as scheduled. Go here for more information and to register.
The notice of the town halls was published in the Federal Register and included 14 specific topics of interest for participants in the town halls to address. WEDI’s Privacy & Security Workgroup plans to review the list of topics and solicit input for potential comments to submit to CISA.
OCR Settles HIPAA Security Rule Investigation with SUD Treatment Provider. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a settlement with an Illinois substance use disorder (SUD) provider for a potential violation of the HIPAA Security Rule. The settlement resolves an investigation by OCR after the provider reported a breach in March 2023. The breach was a result of a successful phishing attack where an unauthorized third party accessed electronic protected health information (ePHI) through an employee’s email account. The ePHI for 1,980 patients was compromised by the attack. OCR’s investigation found evidence that the provider failed to conduct an accurate and thorough risk analysis. This settlement is the 11th enforcement action in OCR’s Risk Analysis Initiative. The provider resolved the enforcement action with a settlement agreement and payment of a fine of $103,000 to OCR.
HITAC Resumes Activity, Reviews 2026 Work Plan. The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) resumed its activity with its first meeting of the year. Dr. Thomas Keane, Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, delivered remarks on ASTP’s priorities related to enhancing patient-centered care, improving data liquidity, and reducing burden and redundancies. The committee reviewed plans for the HITAC Annual Report Workgroup and an Adopted Standards Task Group. The meeting included presentations on the HTI-5 proposed rule, Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement™ (TEFCA™) updates, overview of the U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) Version 7, and update on the Behavioral Health Information Technology Initiative. HITAC is scheduled to meet next on May 7.
CAQH Releases 2025 CAQH Index Report Highlighting Industry Adoption of Electronic Transactions. CAQH released its 2025 CAQH Index Report tracking adoption of HIPAA electronic transactions and cost savings for the industry. Overall, the report shows an estimated $258 billion avoided in administrative costs, demonstrating improved data exchange through the use of electronic transactions. The CAQH Index analyzes data from various payer and provider organizations that send, receive, and process administrative transactions. The data includes transaction volume, cost and time estimates, and methods of data exchange providing a broad understanding of electronic data exchange in health care. Conclusions from the Index can be used by the health care industry to identify ongoing gaps in administrative automation, operational areas for improvement, and potential for additional cost savings. New this year is the addition of “CAQH Index Pro” that allows users to personalize results for their organization using Index data. Attend the 2025 CAQH Index webinar on March 19 to learn more.
ASTP/ONC Highlights its Progress in the use of Health IT. ASTP/ONC reported the progress it has made to lower the cost of health care by leveraging and coordinating strategic advantages in technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and health care infrastructure as part of its message at the ASTP 2026 Annual Meeting. Accomplishments ASTP/ONC promoted include: (i) Transforming health data liquidity through TEFCA™; (ii) Fighting information blocking through oversight actions under; (iii) Using technology to lower costs for patients and reduce provider burden; (iv) Lowering health IT developer burden by modernizing health IT certification; (v) Leading the HHS-wide push to unlock clinical AI; and (vi) Advancing health data standardization through the USCDI.