The Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT is calling for public comment on an advance notice of proposed rulemaking about the use of metadata standards to support the exchange of electronic health information, Modern Healthcare reports (Conn, Modern Healthcare, 8/8).
Background
Metadata -- which refers to elements that describe data -- are considered a necessary step in the development of complex health information exchange networks.
The push for metadata standards stems from a December 2010 report by the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The report recommended the development and use of a universal exchange language to promote health data exchange and increase the privacy and security of information.
The language would separate data into units that have a "metadata tag" with directions for how to use the data (iHealthBeat, 6/23).
Metadata standards could become part of Stage 2 meaningful use requirements, according to Fierce Government IT. Under the 2009 federal economic stimulus package, health care providers who demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health records can qualify for Medicaid and Medicare incentive payments (Perera, Fierce Government IT, 8/8).
Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
The proposed rule outlines a scenario in which metadata standards could be attached to a summary care record when patients ask to download their health data from a patient portal or transmit the data directly to their personal health record (Mosquera, Government Health IT, 8/8).
ONC's notice indicates that the agency specifically is seeking comments on recommendations by the Health IT Policy and Health IT Standards committees on the use of metadata tags for:
- Patient identity;
- Provenance, which refers to tracing the source of data in an EHR; and
- Privacy protections.
The comment period runs through Sept. 23 (Modern Healthcare, 8/8).