ONC’s Trusted Trade Framework and Widespread Settlement (TEFCA) Broadcasts First Cohort of Contributors

On January 19, 2022, the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies (HHS) Workplace of the Nationwide Coordinator for Well being Info Know-how (ONC) revealed the Trusted Trade Framework and Widespread Settlement (TEFCA) for well being info trade. The Trusted Trade Framework established a set of non-binding, foundational ideas for belief insurance policies and practices to assist facilitate trade amongst well being info networks (HINs). The Widespread Settlement below TEFCA developed the infrastructure mannequin and governing strategy for customers in numerous networks to securely share fundamental scientific info with one another—all below generally agreed-to expectations and guidelines, no matter which community they occur to be in. TEFCA’s predominant aim is to encourage interoperability throughout the nation by growing uniform insurance policies and technical necessities to control knowledge sharing and to make sure that all contributors can entry real-time well being info. For a extra detailed breakdown of the construction and performance of TEFCA see Crowell’s earlier publish.

The event of TEFCA was mandated by the 21^st Century Cures Act. In 2019, the ONC issued a Discover of Funding Alternative and in the end appointed The Sequoia Undertaking, Inc. to function the Acknowledged Coordinating Entity (RCE). A few 12 months after the long-awaited TEFCA publication, ONC held an occasion on February 13^th, 2023 to acknowledge the primary set of applicant organizations that had been accredited as certified well being info networks (QHINs). The accredited HINs include CommonWell Well being Alliance, eHealth Trade, Epic TEFCA Interoperability Companies, Well being Gorilla, Kno2, and KONZA Nationwide Community. These six potential QHINs agreed to the identical knowledge sharing infrastructure, which permits them to connect with each other and permits their contributors, together with gives, payers, and public well being companies, to trade well being info nationwide. This primary cohort of potential QHINs will endure onboarding over the course of the 12 months. The ONC plans to announce further QHINs as they’re accredited by the RCE.

Since TEFCA participation is voluntary, the extent of its influence is proscribed by the variety of entities that apply for QHIN designation. With widespread community participation, TEFCA is meant to:

• permit networks to securely share and entry knowledge
• make a core set of information out there for networks below the Widespread Settlement
• curtail the necessity for entities to affix a number of HINs and agreements which is able to lower prices and enhance effectivity
• create a standard set of privateness and safety necessities for HINs and IT builders to guard affected person knowledge

To be taught extra about TEFCA, current actions and future implications hearken to Business Views on the Trusted Trade Framework and Widespread Settlement right here.