Implications of the 21st Century Cures Act in Pediatrics.

Abstract

* Abbreviations: EHI — : electronic health information EHR — : electronic health record In March 2020, unrelated to but somewhat obscured by the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology at the US Department of Health and Human Services announced a new landmark medical information–sharing rule, referred to as the 21st Century Cures Act final rule.1 The rule is complex and governs many facets of health information technology, including electronic health records (EHRs). One aspect, regarding the need for pediatric certification aspects of EHRs, brings a welcome acknowledgment of the unique needs of children. The first part of the rule is currently scheduled to go into effect on April 5, 2021, and has the potential to significantly empower patients and their families and increase their engagement in their own health care; however, there are specific pediatric implications and challenges. The pediatric health care provider community must play a critical role in implementing these rules in a safe and meaningful way for children and their guardians. In brief, the new rules provide a framework to facilitate patient, family, and provider access to medical records, significantly increasing the types of electronic health information (EHI) that must be easily and electronically accessible to patients and guardians and to providers who care for those patients. The rules also require health providers to send this EHI to third-party … Address correspondence to Natalie M. Pageler, MD, Department of Information Services, Stanford Children’s Health, 4100 Bohannon Dr, M/C 5522, Menlo Park, CA 94025. E-mail: npageler{at}stanford.edu