Health IT Groups Criticize Information Exchange Regulation Plan

Organizations representing private-sector stakeholders have reacted negatively to the framework for governance and operations of the Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN) that the Office of the National Coordinator of Health IT (ONC) described in a recent request for information (RFI). The main thrust of their comments on the RFI, which was issued May 15, is that the proposed framework contains too large a dose of federal regulation and control and is premature.

The comment period on the RFI closes July 6. After that, ONC will propose rules to create a governance mechanism for the NwHIN, as required by law. These would affect not only the NwHIN Exchange, which will become a public-private entity in the fall, but would also impose certain requirements on other health information exchanges and entities that voluntarily choose to participate in the NwHIN.