On the heels of the release of United States Core Data for Interoperability USCDI Version 2 (USCDI v2), ONC has also opened a single, synchronized feedback period for the Interoperability Standards Advisory(ISA), the Standards Version Advancement Process (SVAP), and the draft United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 3 (USCDI v3). Taken together, ISA, SVAP, and draft USCDI v3 enable ONC to engage with the health care community to advance health IT standards that support high priority target areas such as the COVID-19 public health emergency, equity and support for underserved communities, and the interoperability standards priorities “target areas” referenced by the 21st Century Cures Act. Some of these include quality of patient care, clinical research, privacy and security, patient safety, usability, and patient access to electronic health information.

Interoperability Standards Advisory

Since its inception in 2015, the Interoperability Standards Advisory has grown to become an online encyclopedia of standards and implementation specifications that can be used to meet specific interoperability needs in health care. The annual ISA review and comment period is an opportunity to provide comments, suggest revisions, and propose additions to the ISA before we take a “snapshot” and publish the 2022 ISA Reference Edition. Are there particular standards or specifications that are missing or in need of an update? Now is your chance to comment!

Comment on the ISA

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Standards Version Advancement Process

The comment period for the Standards Version Advancement Process, established through ONC’s 21st Century Cures Act Final Rule, is also now open. The SVAP allows health IT developers in the ONC Health IT Certification Program to voluntarily update their certified health IT to newer versions of ONC regulated standards, including newer versions of the USCDI. Comments received will help ONC understand which versions of standards are ready for use in the Health IT Certification program. The USCDI Version 2 is now available for consideration as part of the SVAP-eligible standards and implementation specifications considered for 2021. New data elements included in USCDI v2 support stakeholders’ feedback from stakeholders encouraging ONC to advance health equity, including data elements for sexual orientation, gender identity, and social determinants of health.

Comment on the SVAP

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Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability  Version 3

And, finally don’t forget that ONC is currently accepting new submissions for data elements and data classes to be considered for inclusion in the next version of USCDI Version 3 (USCDI v3).  As noted in ONC Standards Bulletin 2021-2 , ONC certification already includes certain requirements to capture granular race and ethnicity data, and the recently published USCDI Version 2 includes SOGI and SDOH data elements. We welcome suggestions on data elements to further address health equity, in addition to recommendations to support other important goals. The USCDI ONC New Data Element and Class (ONDEC) Submission System (ONDEC) gives you an opportunity to submit new data elements and data classes.

Submit data elements and classes

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Your feedback is important! To make it efficient for stakeholders to submit feedback, the comment period for ISA and SVAP, and the submission period for USCDI v3 will run concurrently and end on Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 11:59pm ET.

Thank you for your continued feedback and work toward improved interoperability!