Access Granted: Changes Coming to 21st Century Cures Act

After taking effect in April 2021, the first phase of the 21st Century Cures Act called upon providers to balance accessibility with security regarding sensitive patient information. It prevented “information blocking” and meant that when a patient asked for a copy of their records, their provider had to give it to them free of charge – no ifs, ands, or buts.  

By the end of 2022, patients will be granted access to even more personal health data, and this time, they won’t have to ask for it at all.  

How the 21st Century Cures Act is changing  

There are two major updates you should know about:  

• The definition of electronic health information (EHI) is expanding on October 6, 2022. 
• Patients will be able to access this information via third-party apps by December 31, 2022. 

While EHI currently includes data like visit notes and patient histories, it will soon involve financial information as well. In October, billing records, payments, and claims will become part of the picture, as well as any records used to make medical decisions about a person.   

Patients will also be able to access their data via app—think pulling up a banking app and seeing exactly how many times you ordered your favorite latte last week. Likewise, patients will be able to view their health information in one convenient place. Ideally, this new regulation will empower patients and allow them to keep a closer eye on their health status. But there are benefits for providers, too: It’ll help you streamline communication and maintain open, trusting relationships with patients. 

What this means for your practice 

This is a big shift. Change can be intimidating, and regulatory updates coupled with new technology requirements can feel especially tough to navigate. You may have questions: Will this drive calls to your practice? What information will patients see about themselves, exactly? How do you grant access to this data in the first place?  

It’s natural to have questions and concerns. But rest assured Eyefinity has been working tirelessly to prepare you and your practice for a smooth transition this October. In the meantime, however, there are a few things you can do to get ahead: make sure you’re already compliant with current 21st Century Cures Act mandates, finalize your visits, and let us handle the nuances behind the scenes.  

Ensure compliance 

Want a great way to prepare for the new rules? Make sure you’re compliant with the current ones! It’s easy with Eyefinity Encompass^™. Just give patients access to their Patient Portal, which stores their information on a HIPAA-compliant cloud server and allows them to retrieve records on demand. If that wasn’t simple enough, Eyefinity Encompass is also already able to export the data you’ll need to make available to patients once the EHI definition expands. 

Finalize exams 

You’ll also want to be sure to finalize exams before the new rules kick in, that way all your patients’ information is up to date. Check out our step-by-step video on finalizing visits in Eyefinity Encompass .  

Let us do the heavy lifting

Regulatory changes can be daunting, but we’re here to help. We’ll handle the technicalities so you can focus on empowering patients, providing outstanding care, and setting yourself up for success now and well beyond October 6. 

Want to see other ways Eyefinity Encompass can make regulatory updates easier? Learn more.