ONC Issues Deregulatory Actions for Health IT Certification, Keeps Info‑Blocking Rules
The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology relaxes certification requirements while keeping strict information‑blocking safeguards intact.
On October 26, 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) published a new set of deregulatory actions aimed at simplifying the Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability (Health‑IT) certification process. The announcement removes several previously required steps for EHR and health‑IT product certification, streamlining compliance timelines and reducing administrative costs for vendors and health‑care providers. Crucially, the ONC confirmed that Information Blocking Rules will remain unchanged, preserving protections for patients’ access to their electronic health data. This development is significant for counsels advising health‑IT platforms, hospitals, insurers, and health‑tech start‑ups, as it alters the regulatory roadmap and may reduce entry barriers for new products. Legal teams should track how these changes affect ongoing vendor relationships, compliance audit plans, and potential third‑party certifications. The next key development to watch is the ONC’s guidance on how the eased certification steps apply to health‑IT solutions that intersect with the Information Blocking framework, which could influence future contractual and policy advice.