HHS Proposed Rule Seeks To Align Health IT Procurement Standards To Leverage Interoperable Data

On August 9, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a proposed rule that seeks to amend and update the Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) to align health IT procurement requirements. The rule mandates that health IT procured by HHS meet certain "standards and implementation specifications adopted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology."

This move comes after the issuance of a 2022 HHS-wide plan to advance interoperability through departmental activities. The hope is that increased interoperability will allow HHS to leverage data available in electronic health records to enhance federal activities, and greater consistency in health IT activities will lower costs and increase the effectiveness of agency programs.