OIG alert hints at increased scrutiny over health IT data blocking - Modern Healthcare Modern Healthcare business news, research, data and events: OIG alert hints at increased scrutiny over health IT data blocking
By Lisa Schencker | October 8, 2015
A federal watchdog group sent out an alert this week about information blocking and potential violations of the anti-kickback law (PDF). Some experts say the Office of Inspector General alert hints at the agency's growing concern about the issue. The document reminds providers that, normally, they may donate information technology or software to potential referral sources, such as a physician practice, under a safe harbor provision of the anti-kickback statute. But if the donor uses those donated items to limit the use, compatibility or interoperability of other electronic health-record systems, then the safe harbor no longer applies.Paula Sanders, chairwoman of the healthcare practice group at Post & Schell, said the alert hints that the agency is trying to combat data-blocking.
