March 9, 2026
As a member of the LTPAC Health IT Collaborative, the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medical Association (PALTmed) recently joined a coalition letter responding to the proposed federal rule Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity (HTI-5) from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
The letter highlights the importance of ensuring that health information technology (health IT) policy fully accounts for the needs of long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers and the medically complex populations they serve. In its comments, the Collaborative expressed support for efforts to streamline regulations and reduce administrative burden, but raises concerns that some proposed changes could unintentionally disadvantage LTPAC providers. The letter emphasizes that the sector has historically been excluded from major federal health IT investment programs, leaving many providers with fewer resources to adopt and maintain interoperable technology systems.
Among the key themes highlighted in the letter:
- Protecting patient privacy and security: Maintaining baseline health IT security capabilities, including authentication, access controls, and audit trails.
- Safe care transitions: Preserving requirements that support accurate medication reconciliation and clinical information exchange during transitions between care settings.
- Family and caregiver engagement: Ensuring technology continues to support access to health information for residents and their caregivers, who often play a critical role in care coordination.
- Responsible use of AI in health care: Promoting transparency and oversight for AI-enabled clinical decision support tools used in caring for vulnerable populations.
- Realistic implementation timelines: Providing sufficient transition periods, technical assistance, and resources for LTPAC providers and vendors adapting to new requirements.