The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (hereafter ASTP) is at the forefront of the administration’s health IT efforts and is a resource to the entire health system to support the adoption of health information technology and the promotion of nationwide, standards-based health information exchange to improve health care. ASTP is organizationally located within the Office of the Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Follow them @HHS_TechPolicy. Sign up for their email updates. Here is what they are doing and reporting.
News & Announcements
2026 ASTP Annual Meeting Agenda
The agenda for the 2026 ASTP Annual Meeting is available now! Join them for an exciting lineup of mainstage sessions discussing the intersection of health IT with key HHS priorities:
- Health Technology for Transparency and Affordability
- Future Perspectives: Tech-Enabled Care
- Accelerating Artificial Intelligence Use as Part of Clinical Care
- Empowering Patients and Providers: Data Liquidity
Breakout sessions include topics such as TEFCA®, the latest research from ASTP, USCDI, an information blocking bootcamp, and various listening and information sessions. The main stage events will be live streamed if you are unable to attend in person.
HHS Releases the HTI-5 Proposed Rule to Modernize the ONC Health IT Certification Program
The HTI-5 Proposed Rule is open for public comment until February 27, 2026. ASTP/ONC recently posted a recorded information session with a more in-depth overview of the proposed rule.
HHS Wants Your Ideas to Accelerate AI in Clinical Care
In collaboration with the HHS’ Deputy Secretary’s office, ASTP/ONC has released a Request for Information focused on how to accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical care to ensure it works for American patients. They are especially interested in comments from those building AI tools for clinical settings, those buying or implementing AI tools for clinical settings, and those who want to use AI in clinical care but face barriers. Comment by February 23, 2026.
New National EHR Survey Dataset Available
New data from the most recent National Electronic Health Records Survey (NEHRS) is now publicly available. The 2024 survey measures the progress U.S. physicians and their offices have made in adopting electronic health records, exchanging information electronically, and digitally engaging with their patients.
Events
ASTP Annual Meeting
When: February 11-12, 2026
Where: Washington DC
The 2026 ASTP Annual Meeting will be held in Washington, DC February 11-12, 2026. The Annual Meeting will include in-person education and plenary sessions and networking opportunities for the health IT community. The main stage plenary sessions will also be available for viewing online. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks on the agenda, how to register, and how to reserve a hotel room through ASTP’s room block.
TEFCA RCE Monthly Informational Call
Third Tuesday of each month | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Learn more at The Sequoia Project.
Read
From the Health IT Buzz Blog – Learn more about health information technology (health IT) from HHS’s Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP). Check out the latest blog posts:
- Digital Dividends Realized: Hospital Patient Engagement Capabilities
- HHS Wants Your Ideas to Accelerate AI in Clinical Care
- The Tide and the Speedboats: TEFCA and CMS-Aligned Networks
- TEFCA Government Benefits Determination Implementation is Here!
- Why TEFCA’s Hardest Problem Isn’t Tech, It’s Trust
- TEFCA: Accelerating Government Benefits Determination for a Better Tomorrow
- New Data on the Certified Health IT Market Now Available
- Laboratory Data Standards for Interoperability
Resources
HTI-4 Final Rule
ASTP/ONC’s HTI-4 final rule finalizes certain proposals from the HTI-2 Patient Engagement, Information Sharing, and Public Health Interoperability proposed rule, including new and updated health IT certification criteria for electronic prior authorization, electronic prescribing, and real-time prescription benefit information. The HTI-4 final rule also includes several related criteria for application programming interface (API) functionality and finalizes the adoption of additional standards for HHS that support the exchange of clinical and administrative information with payers. HTI-4 is published as part of the FY2026 CMS Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) final rule (CMS-1833-F).
The final rule is effective on October 1, 2025.
Information Blocking
Most clinical information is digitized, accessible, and shareable thanks to several technology and policy advances making interoperable, electronic health record systems widely available. In 2016, the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act) made sharing electronic health information the expected norm in health care and authorized the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to identify “reasonable and necessary activities that do not constitute information blocking.” Information blocking exceptions are identified in 45 CFR Part 171. Learn more about laws, regulations, and policies related to information blocking.
United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI)
The United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) is a standardized set of health data classes and constituent data elements for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. Review the USCDI Fact Sheet to learn more.
TEFCA
The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) establishes a universal policy and technical floor for nationwide interoperability; simplifies connectivity for organizations to securely exchange information to improve patient care, enhance the welfare of populations, and generate health care value; and enables individuals to gather their healthcare information. The Common Agreement establishes the infrastructure model and the governing approach for users in different networks to securely share basic clinical information under commonly agreed-to expectations and rules.
Certification of Health IT
The ONC Health IT Certification Program (Certification Program) ensures that Certified Health Information Technology meets the technological capability, functionality, and security requirements adopted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).