MGMA to HHS National HIT Coordinator: Information exchange should incentivize practices and must be secure

The Association submitted comments on the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) proposed Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). The framework, required under the 21st Century Cures Act, seeks to create a nationwide voluntary system of health information networks permitting patient information to flow to and between physician practices and other care settings. MGMA encouraged ONC to incentivize practices of all sizes to participate and prioritize the security of the information being exchanged. In addition, MGMA called on ONC to implement the TEFCA in a transparent and accountable way and urged the agency to ensure effective matching of patient records.