2026 Federal Budget Request
President Trump released his federal fiscal year 2026 budget May 30, which requests funding proposals for government agencies including NIH and ARPA-H.
Read moreThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a long-anticipated proposed rule Nov. 1, that would institute disincentives on providers the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) finds are in violation of Information Blocking rules. These rules — in effect without provider-specific penalties for more than two years — prohibit unreasonable practices likely to interfere with, prevent, or materially discourage access, exchange, or use of electronic health information.
Information Blocking compliance requirements for providers and industry actors were implemented in a May 1, 2020, HHS final rule, which went into effect on April 5, 2021. However, the program has significantly evolved since then, with major regulatory changes and publication of assorted HHS guidance, including on compliance issues raised by the American College of Radiology® (ACR®).
Civil monetary penalties were finalized by the OIG on July 3, 2023, for certified health IT developers and health information networks found in violation of information blocking rules, and those penalties went into effect on Sept. 1, 2023. However, the establishing law (21st Century Cures Act of 2016) required Information Blocking penalties to be handled differently for providers, and that these be limited to disincentives allowed under existing HHS authorities — e.g., CMS incentive programs. Accordingly, CMS has proposed that the provider-specific disincentives be as follows:
More information, including a radiology-specific frequently asked questions document, is on the ACR's information blocking educational webpage.
ACR will file comments to CMS within the 60-day comment period. To provide input into these comments or for more information about Information Blocking rules, contact Michael Peters, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director.
2026 Federal Budget Request
President Trump released his federal fiscal year 2026 budget May 30, which requests funding proposals for government agencies including NIH and ARPA-H.
Read moreAdvocacy Curriculum Empowers Radiologists
The curriculum demystifies advocacy and provides practical, bite-sized lessons on communication, leadership, branding and legislative engagement.
Read moreACR Applauds Radiologist Named Head of HHS Health IT Agency
The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) applauds the selection of radiologist Thomas Keane, MD, MBA, as the second Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) and ninth National Coordinator for Health Information Technology within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
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