than 77 percent of these claims were filed against health-care providers. Sixty-eight percent of claims were filed by patients or a third party on their behalf. Lawyers are now getting involved to support patients in these claims.5 While ONC has already announced penalties for EHRs, HHS and CMS will be announcing civil monetary penalties by the end of 2022 for health-care providers who are found guilty of Information Blocking.6 Guidelines to Prevent Information Blocking Claims Against Your Practice * Educate all personnel in your practice about Cures Act Information Blocking rules, requirements, and exceptions. * Establish a process for evaluating and fulfilling information requests from patients, third parties on their behalf, and other providers. Have the process in writing. * Document applicable exceptions (if any), along with the action taken. * Implement necessary security practices for secure access to data. * Get proof of certification from your EHR to ensure you have the capability to fulfill requests for data via FHIR® API well before the January 1, 2023, deadline. Contact Wayne Singer at wayne@darenasolutions.com. Endnotes 1 https://www.healthit.gov/sites/ default/files/page2/2020-08/ Health_Care_Provider_Definitions_v3.pdf 2 https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/ files/2022-07/InformationBlockingExceptions.pdf 3 https://inquiry.healthit.gov/support/plugins/ servlet/desk/portal/6 4 https://www.healthit.gov/data/quickstats/ information-blocking-claims-numbers 5 alleged-information-blocking.html 6 https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ ehrs/onc-asked-to-investigate-meditech-overhttps://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/ information-blocking-what-providersand-7995009 APMA.ORG apmanews 29https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/page2/2020-08/Health_Care_Provider_Definitions_v3.pdf https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/page2/2020-08/Health_Care_Provider_Definitions_v3.pdf https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/page2/2020-08/Health_Care_Provider_Definitions_v3.pdf https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/InformationBlockingExceptions.pdf https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/2022-07/InformationBlockingExceptions.pdf https://inquiry.healthit.gov/support/plugins/servlet/desk/portal/6 https://inquiry.healthit.gov/support/plugins/servlet/desk/portal/6 https://www.healthit.gov/data/quickstats/information-blocking-claims-numbers https://www.healthit.gov/data/quickstats/information-blocking-claims-numbers https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ehrs/onc-asked-to-investigate-meditech-over-alleged-information-blocking.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ehrs/onc-asked-to-investigate-meditech-over-alleged-information-blocking.html https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/ehrs/onc-asked-to-investigate-meditech-over-alleged-information-blocking.html https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/information-blocking-what-providers-and-7995009/ https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/information-blocking-what-providers-and-7995009/ https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/information-blocking-what-providers-and-7995009/ http://www.APMA.ORG