OIG warns against using EHRs to block information

Editor's Note

An Office of Inspector General (OIG) alert reminds healthcare professionals and hospitals that information blocking in health information technology (IT) is a problem, and steps to prevent interoperability of an electronic health record (EHR) platform or services with other IT systems is not subject to safe harbor protections and could lead to violations of federal anti-kickback laws.

The safe harbor is intended “to protect beneficial arrangements that would eliminate perceived barriers to the adoption of EHR without creating undue risk that the arrangements might be used to induce or reward the generation of business,” OIG says.