By Kate Monica

March 06, 2018 - CMS Administrator Seema Verma recently announced a new initiative from the Trump Administration — MyHealthEData — designed to improve EHR patient data access.

According to an announcement from Verma during HIMSS18, the initiative is part of a larger effort to create a more patient-centric healthcare system.

MyHealthEData is a government-wide initiative spearheaded by the White House Office of American Innovation, with participation from HHS, CMS, ONC, VA, and the National Institute of Health (NIH).

The initiative is intended to give patients more control of their own EHR data and will do this by breaking down existing barriers to health data access and use. Patients will have access to their own EHRs through the device or application of their choice, stated CMS.

Additionally, MyHealthEData will enable patients to choose the provider that best meets their needs and grant that provider secure access to the patient’s EHRs.

MyHealthEData aims to allow patients to receive copies of their entire EHRs, share their personal health data with anyone they choose, and put themselves at the center of the healthcare system.

With full access to their own EHRs, patients can find providers and healthcare services that best meet their needs, improve their understanding of their overall health, and make more informed decisions about their personal care.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma also announced plans to overhaul the EHR Incentive Programs to emphasize enabling interoperability improvements and reducing administrative burden associated with meeting federal reporting requirements.

In addition to reducing administrative burden associated with the EHR Incentive Programs, CMS also plans to reduce the cost of complying with the program’s requirements.

Verma added that CMS has implemented new laws about information blocking in an effort to ensure patients have access to their own health data.

Some CMS programs require hospitals and clinicians to demonstrate they have not engaged in information blocking activities, stated CMS.

CMS also plans to improve patient access to health data through the following efforts:

CMS is requiring providers to update their systems to ensure data sharing.

CMS intends to require that a patient’s data follow them after they are discharged from the hospital.

CMS is working to streamline documentation and billing requirements for providers to allow doctors to spend more time with their patients.

CMS is working to reduce the incidence of unnecessary and duplicative testing that occurs as a result of providers not sharing data,

The federal agency will collaborate with ONC to improve provider satisfaction with EHR use.