On July 24, the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) launched the United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 6 (USCDI v6) to improve electronic health data exchange. Updates include expanded medical device data, care planning strategies, ventilator and bed tracking methods and new standards for lab results and medication orders. These changes aim to support the provision of precision medicine and better patient care across the healthcare system.
USCDI v6 & Rheumatology
The USCDI v6 incorporates the following new data elements that are directly relevant to rheumatologists:
- Date of Onset: Enables more precise tracking of disease progression and response to treatment.
- Care Plan: Standardizes how treatment goals and strategies are documented and shared across care teams.
- Family Health History: Supports early detection and personalized treatment strategies.
- Unique Device Identifier (UDI): Improves traceability of biologics and infusion devices used in treatment.
- Medication Order and Dispense Status: Enhances clarity in prescribing and monitoring specialty medications.
- Advance Directive Observation and Portable Medical Orders: Ensures fidelity to patient preferences in critical care scenarios.
These elements are now part of the required data set for certified health information technology systems, meaning electronic health record vendors must integrate them and rheumatologists must be ready to record them.
Additional Updates to Data Elements & Classes
- Medication Order now includes RxNorm as the applicable standard.
- Laboratory Order, Diagnostic Imaging Order, and Clinical Test Order include LOINC as the applicable standard.
- Fill Status has been renamed to Dispense Status.
- Advance Directive Observation has been moved to the Goals and Preferences data class.
- Definitions, examples and/or usage notes have been updated for the following data elements: Performance Time, SDOH Assessment, Result Unit of Measure, Coverage Type, Patient Goals, Specimen Condition Acceptability and Reaction.
- The Patient Summary and Plan data class has been renamed to Care Plan.
How Could These Changes Help Rheumatology Practices?
- Improved care coordination: With standardized care plans and onset data, rheumatologists can collaborate more effectively with primary care physicians, pain management specialists, and other providers.
- Enhanced patient engagement: Patients can now contribute to their care plans, fostering shared decision making and better adherence.
- Streamlined prior authorization: The new standards support real-time data exchange, which could reduce delays in accessing biologics and infusions.
- Precision medicine support: Expanded device and lab data elements enable more targeted treatment approaches, especially for rare autoimmune conditions.
Rheumatology practices must ensure their documentation aligns with USCDI v6 standards to avoid audit risks and ensure smooth reimbursement under Medicare and other payers. For more information, see the ASTP/ONC Standards Bulletin.
To learn more about the ACR’s regulatory advocacy efforts, email the ACR’s advocacy team at [email protected]. ACR/ARP members can also meet directly with the ACR’s advocacy team to discuss the issues and challenges they face. Schedule time to meet at rheumatology.org/about-acr-advocacy.
