The finalized first part of the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-2) rule, effective January 15, 2025, has generated disappointment among health IT developers, as it only addresses a limited number of proposed updates. Key elements include revisions to the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement and administrative corrections; however, it lacks clarity on the certification of artificial intelligence enhancements. Despite 270 comments received by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the draft, the focus remained narrow, with updates affecting the Health IT Certification Program and specific security tagging requirements for clinical documents, leaving important questions unresolved for developers, particularly regarding Insights Measures essential for HHS compliance.

Health IT Developers Disappointed by Limited Scope of New HTI-2 Rule Healthcare IT News

PIH Health, a healthcare provider in Southern California, experienced a significant ransomware attack on December 1, leading to the theft of 17 million patient records and widespread service disruptions across its facilities. The ongoing IT and phone system outages are affecting care delivery to the 3 million residents served by the organization. Cybercriminals have threatened to publish 2 terabytes of stolen data unless PIH Health complies with their demands, though no specific ransom has been disclosed. In response, PIH Health has instituted downtime procedures to maintain emergency services, but many elective procedures may be postponed, prompting patients to bring paper records for their visits.

Ransomware Attack Hits PIH Health, Exposing 17 Million Patient Records BankInfoSecurity

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Yahoo Empowers Users with Enhanced Privacy Controls and Cookie Management Yahoo Finance

Intermountain Health has partnered with Microsoft, Gates Ventures, Epic, and West Health to address the healthcare crisis affecting rural America, where around 60 million people are facing limited access to services and rising mortality rates. The coalition aims to tackle challenges such as the financial instability of rural hospitals and technology infrastructure deficits, with a focus on delivering specialized care. Notably, a "hub-and-spoke" model is proposed to link rural hospitals with larger health systems, enabling enhanced resource access and transformative changes for these communities.

Coalition Launches Initiative to Revitalize Rural Healthcare Access Intermountain Health