Jennifer Hennessy Discusses Proposed Info Blocking Rules for Medicare Providers

Foley & Lardner LLP partner Jennifer Hennessy is quoted in the Healthcare IT News article, “Info blocking exceptions need special attention from providers,” commenting on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposal of information blocking disincentives for Medicare providers.

Hennessy’s comments came during a recent American Telemedicine Association webinar examining key exceptions to info blocking and strategies to ensure compliance. The HHS takes info blocking “very seriously; they understand this is a problem,” she said. “So, I don’t think it’ll be a situation where we don’t have any penalties for five years. I think they will come relatively quickly.”

Hennessy explained the importance of having well-trained employees who can address the nuanced exceptions to the proposed info blocking rules “to make sure that they understand those exceptions and aren’t running afoul of the information blocking rules unintentionally.”

“It’s going to be very important for your organization to start developing policies and procedures, if you haven’t already, that outline what is required to meet these various exceptions,” she added.