The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) wants feedback on how it can develop better digital health tools for Medicare beneficiaries and drive adoption.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), in partnership with HHS' health IT arm, now called the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), is seeking public input on how best to "advance a seamless, secure, and patient-centered digital health infrastructure."
“We are building a future where seniors and families have the digital tools they need at their fingertips—tools that help them make informed choices, manage chronic conditions, and stay healthy,” said Stephanie Carlton, CMS chief of staff and deputy administrator, in a statement. “The government must be a catalyst, not a barrier, to unleashing American innovation in health care.”
The request for information invites input from patients, caregivers, providers, payers, technology developers and other stakeholders.
The public comment period will be open through June 16. Comments can be submitted through the Regulations.gov website.
In a press release, the CMS said it wants to build on initiatives like Blue Button 2.0 and the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Final Rule.
The agency said it aims to create a "patient-centric, digital healthcare system that is user friendly and provides real-world value for beneficiaries and their families, helping to build on Secretary Kennedy’s commitment to Make America Healthy Again."
The CMS and the ASTP/ONC want the public's input on how to drive the development and adoption of digital health management and care navigation applications; strengthen interoperability and secure access to health data through open, standards-based technologies; and identify barriers preventing the seamless exchange of health information across systems.
The agency also wants feedback on how to reduce administrative burden while accelerating progress toward value-based, patient-centered care.