HTI-1 Updates: What It Means for PALTC Practices 

The only thing that stays the same is change itself, and it’s arrived once again for Post-Acute Long-Term Care (PALTC) providers trying to stay in line with health certification and interoperability standards. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) enacted the new Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (HTI-1) certification program on March 1, shifting standards across the industry.

For PALTC practices, it means broad adjustments to electronic health record (EHR) functionality. New technical standards have arrived for EHRs to capture and exchange data, affecting a range of data categories. Here are a few highlights:

Patient Demographic

HTI-1 expands demographic data elements for PALTC reporting. Updated race and ethnicity standards along with clarification on sexual orientation and gender identity fields are able to improve analytics and decision support.

Family Health History

PALTC providers will now adhere to family health history certification criteria using updated Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine – Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) standards. The new system also offers expanded options for documenting relationships and greater ability to add, review, and edit family history over time.

Transitions of Care;

Along with an update that automatically includes expanded USCDI Version 3 data elements, providers can send Continuity of Care Documents (CCDs) under HTI-1 securely via direct message, health information exchange, or qualified health information network (QHIN).

Patient Access

Patient access certification requirements expand substantially under HTI-1. To meet the View, Download, and Transmit requirements, PALTC providers must use an EHR system with a compliant patient portal.

What Comes Next for PALTC and Geriatric Providers After HTI-1?

Geriatric and PALTC providers should evaluate their EHR systems for HTI-1 readiness. While HTI-1 does not come with significant changes for care providers, it does require updates on the healthcare data infrastructure front. Using an EHR that has accounted for HTI-1 updates is crucial for ensuring proper compliance and the reimbursements that come with it.

If you would like to dive deeper into the details of HTI-1, we invite you to view our webinar, HTI-1 Regulatory Update and What it Means for PALTC Practices.  We explore how Netsmart GEHRIMED® is evolving to support PALTC providers with HTI-1 readiness and compliance while explaining how the new requirements affect documentation, data exchange and decision support transparency.