In March 2026, HHS announced that it reversed a 2024 reorganization that: (1) dually titled the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) as the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC), headed by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy, dually titled as the National Coordinator for Health IT; (2) moved three HHS-wide technology roles to ONC from the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO); and (3) shifted specific cybersecurity functions out of OCIO. The action restored a unified, Department wide technology leadership model by returning these enterprise responsibilities to OCIO while sharpening ONC’s mission focus on nationwide health IT interoperability and data liquidity.
News & Announcements
New Health IT Resource Available – Introducing Cartos
Introducing Cartos – ONC’s public, FHIR-enabled terminology service that helps implementers find, understand, and use terminology content connected to ONC regulations and the Standards Version Advancement Process. It allows users to find up-to-date and correct terminology assets by bringing regulatory context, implementation guide references, terminology metadata, and terminology content together in one coordinated location. Check out Cartos.
Winners Announced – The KidneyX EMPOWER Challenge
The KidneyX EMPOWER: Living Link Prize 2026 awardees have been announced. The challenge sought scalable interventions to bridge the gap between considering donation to giving the gift of life through kidney donation. Read the press release to learn about the awardees and their solutions. Read the press release.
On to EHIgnite Phase 2
ONC recently announced the nine teams advancing to Phase 2 of the EHIgnite Challenge. Their solutions use advanced AI to turn dense EHI exports into clearer, actionable information for patients, caregivers, and clinicians. Watch the showcase recording to learn more!
Events
Civitas Networks for Health Annual Conference – September 22-24, 2026
Check out this session:
HIEs and Perceived Information Blocking Trends
When: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 1:00 – 1:45 pm ET
ONC shapes health IT policy to promote secure, interoperable data exchange, while working to stop information blocking. HIEs are well-positioned to provide insights on interoperability, electronic health information exchange, and possible information blocking behaviors. ONC will share survey findings and complaint data, engage HIEs in discussion about their experiences with possible information blocking, and gather input to strengthen the flow of electronic health information.
Speakers
Wesley Barker
Branch Chief – Data Analysis Branch
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT
Rachel Nelson
Branch Chief, Compliance & Administration, ONC Office of Policy
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
TEFCA RCE Monthly Informational Call
Third Tuesday of each month | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET
Learn more at The Sequoia Project.
Save the Date!
2027 Annual Meeting
Februrary 3-4 in Washington DC
Resources
HTI-4 Final Rule
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 was 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).