United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI)

The United States Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI) is a standardized set of health data classes and constituent data elements for nationwide, interoperable health information exchange. Review the USCDI Fact Sheet to learn more.

A USCDI Data Class is an aggregation of Data Elements by a common theme or use case.

A USCDI Data Element is a piece of data defined in USCDI for access, exchange or use of electronic health information.  

USCDI ONC New Data Element & Class (ONDEC) Submission System

USCDI V1

Please reference the USCDI version 1 document to the left for applicable standards versions associated with USCDI v1.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Health professional’s conclusions and working assumptions that will guide treatment of the patient.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Desired state to be achieved by a patient.

Health related matter that is of interest, importance, or worry to someone who may be the patient, patient’s family or patient’s health care provider.

Record of vaccine administration.

Analysis of clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

Representing a patient’s smoking behavior.

USCDI V2

The USCDI v2 contains data classes and elements from USCDI v1 and new data classes and elements submitted through the ONDEC system. Please reference the USCDI Version 2 document to the left for applicable vocabulary standards versions associated with USCDI v2 and to the ONC Standards Bulletin 21-3 for more information about the process to develop USCDI v2 and future versions.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Health professional’s conclusions and working assumptions that will guide treatment of the patient.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Non-imaging and non-laboratory tests performed that result in structured or unstructured findings specific to the patient to facilitate the diagnosis and management of conditions.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Information related to interactions between healthcare providers and a patient.

Desired state to be achieved by a patient.

Health related matter that is of interest, importance, or worry to someone who may be the patient, patient’s family or patient’s health care provider.

Record of vaccine administration.

Analysis of clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

Representing a patient’s smoking behavior.

USCDI V3

Please read the USCDI v3 standard document and the ONC Standards Bulletin 22-2 for details. Consistent with EO 14168 and OPM guidance, ASTP/ONC is exercising enforcement and issuing certification guidance for the ONC Health IT Certification Program with respect to certain data elements in USCDI v3. For more information see https://www.healthit.gov/topic/uscdi-v3-data-elements-enforcement-discretion.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Health professional’s conclusions and working assumptions that will guide treatment of the patient.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Non-imaging and non-laboratory tests performed that result in structured or unstructured findings specific to the patient to facilitate the diagnosis and management of conditions.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Information related to interactions between healthcare providers and a patient.

Desired state to be achieved by a patient.

Assessments of a health-related matter of interest, importance, or worry to a patient, patient’s family, or patient’s healthcare provider that could identify a need, problem, or condition.

Record of vaccine administration.

Analysis of clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

USCDI V3.1

Please read the USCDI v3.1 standard document and the ONC Standards Bulletin 22-2 for details. USCDI version 3.1 updates USCDI version 3 with the following changes: consistent with Executive Order 14168, the Sex, Sexual Orientation, and Gender Identity data elements have been removed or updated in the Patient Demographics/Information Data Class.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Health professional’s conclusions and working assumptions that will guide treatment of the patient.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Non-imaging and non-laboratory tests performed that result in structured or unstructured findings specific to the patient to facilitate the diagnosis and management of conditions.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Information related to interactions between healthcare providers and a patient.

Desired state to be achieved by a patient.

Assessments of a health-related matter of interest, importance, or worry to a patient, patient’s family, or patient’s healthcare provider that could identify a need, problem, or condition.

Record of vaccine administration.

Analysis of clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

USCDI V4

USCDI v4 added 20 data elements and one data class to USCDI v3. Please reference the USCDI v4 standard document and the ONC Standards Bulletin 23-2 for details. To review the prioritization criteria ONC used to select the USCDI v4 data elements, refer to the ONC Standards Bulletin 22-2.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Non-imaging and non-laboratory tests performed that result in structured or unstructured findings specific to the patient to facilitate the diagnosis and management of conditions.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Information related to interactions between healthcare providers and a patient.

Physical place of available services or resources.

Desired state to be achieved by a person or a person’s elections to guide care.

Assessments of a health-related matter of interest, importance, or worry to a patient, patient’s family, or patient’s healthcare provider that could identify a need, problem, or condition.

Record of vaccine administration.

An instrument, machine, appliance, implant, software or other article intended to be used for a medical purpose.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Information that guides treatment of the patient and recommendations for future treatment.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

USCDI V5

USCDI v5 was published on July 16, 2024, and includes 16 new data elements and two new data classes. Please read the USCDI v5 standard document and the ONC Standards Bulletin 24-2 for details.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Non-imaging and non-laboratory tests performed that result in structured or unstructured findings specific to the patient to facilitate the diagnosis and management of conditions.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Information related to interactions between healthcare providers and a patient.

Physical place of available services or resources.

Desired state to be achieved by a person or a person’s elections to guide care.

Assessments of a health-related matter of interest, importance, or worry to a patient, patient’s family, or patient’s healthcare provider that could identify a need, problem, or condition.

Record of vaccine administration.

An instrument, machine, appliance, implant, software or other article intended to be used for a medical purpose.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Findings or other clinical data collected about a patient during care.

Provider-authored request for the delivery of patient care services.

 Usage notes: Orders convey a provider’s intent to have a service performed on or for a patient, or to give instructions on future care.

Information that guides treatment of the patient and recommendations for future treatment.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

USCDI V6

ASTP/ONC published USCDI v6 on July 24, 2025, which includes 6 new data elements. Please read the USCDI v6 Standard Document and the ASTP/ONC Standards Bulletin 25-2 for details. ASTP/ONC welcomes input on future versions during the USCDI feedback period, open through September 29, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. During this time, ASTP/ONC is accepting new data element submissions through ONDEC, and comments on existing data elements may be entered via the updated commenting feature on the USCDI data element pages.

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Information that guides treatment of the patient and recommendations for future treatment.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Non-imaging and non-laboratory tests performed that result in structured or unstructured findings specific to the patient to facilitate the diagnosis and management of conditions.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Information related to interactions between healthcare providers and a patient.

Physical place of available services or resources.

Family member health condition(s) that are relevant to a patient's care.

Assessments of a health-related matter of interest, importance, or worry to a patient, patient’s family, or patient’s healthcare provider that could identify a need, problem, or condition.

Record of vaccine administration.

An instrument, machine, appliance, implant, software or other article intended to be used for a medical purpose.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Provider-authored request for the delivery of patient care services.

 Usage notes: Orders convey a provider’s intent to have a service performed on or for a patient, or to give instructions on future care.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

Level 2 data elements meet the following criteria:
  • Represented by a terminology standard or SDO-balloted technical specification or implementation guide.
  • Data element is captured, stored, or accessed in multiple production EHRs or other HIT modules from more than one developer.
  • Data element is electronically exchanged between more than two production EHRs or other HIT modules of different developers using available interoperability standards.
  • Use cases apply to most care settings or specialties.

Level 2

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Material substance originating from a biological entity intended to be transplanted or infused into another (possibly the same) biological entity.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Data related to an individual’s insurance coverage for health care.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

Provider-authored request for the delivery of patient care services.

 Usage notes: Orders convey a provider’s intent to have a service performed on or for a patient, or to give instructions on future care.

Data used to categorize individuals for identification, records matching, and other purposes.

Activity performed for or on a patient as part of the provision of care.

Physiologic measurements of a patient that indicate the status of the body’s life sustaining functions.

Level 1 data elements meet the following criteria:
  • Represented by a terminology standard or SDO-balloted technical specification or implementation guide.
  • Data element is captured, stored, or accessed in at least one production EHR or HIT module.
  • Data element is electronically exchanged between two production EHRs or other HIT modules using available interoperability standards.
  • Use cases apply to several care settings or specialties.

Level 1

Material substance originating from a biological entity intended to be transplanted or infused into another (possibly the same) biological entity.

Narrative patient data relevant to the context identified by note types.

  •  
  • Usage note: Clinical Notes data elements are content exchange standard agnostic. They should not be interpreted or associated with the structured document templates that may share the same name. 

Physical place of available services or resources.

Assessments of a health-related matter of interest, importance, or worry to a patient, patient’s family, or patient’s healthcare provider that could identify a need, problem, or condition.

Analysis of clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient.

Pharmacologic agents used in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.

The metadata, or extra information about data, regarding who created the data and when it was created.

Physiologic measurements of a patient that indicate the status of the body’s life sustaining functions.

Level 0 data elements meet the following criteria:
  • Not represented by a terminology standard or SDO-balloted technical specification or implementation guide.
  • Data element is captured, stored, or accessed in limited settings such as a pilot or proof of concept demonstration.
  • Data element is electronically exchanged in limited environments, such as connectathons or pilots.
  • Use cases apply to a limited number of care settings or specialties, or data element represents a specialization of other, more general data elements.

Level 0

Harmful or undesired physiological responses associated with exposure to a substance.

Material substance originating from a biological entity intended to be transplanted or infused into another (possibly the same) biological entity.

Information about a person who participates or is expected to participate in the care of a patient.

Tests that result in visual images requiring interpretation by a credentialed professional.

Desired state to be achieved by a patient.

Desired state to be achieved by a person or a person’s elections to guide care.

Data related to an individual’s insurance coverage for health care.

Findings or other clinical data collected about a patient during care.

Provider-authored request for the delivery of patient care services.

 Usage notes: Orders convey a provider’s intent to have a service performed on or for a patient, or to give instructions on future care.

Information that guides treatment of the patient and recommendations for future treatment.

Condition, diagnosis, or reason for seeking medical attention.

Physiologic measurements of a patient that indicate the status of the body’s life sustaining functions.

 

All USCDI Versions

The USCDI ONC New Data Element and Class (ONDEC) Submission System supports a predictable, transparent, and collaborative process, allowing health IT stakeholders to submit new data elements and classes for future versions of USCDI. Click here for more information and to submit new data elements.

The USCDI standard will follow the Standards Version Advancement Process described in the Cures rule to allow health IT developers to update their systems to newer version of USCDI and provide these updates to their customers.

Comment

Linking elements in the USCDI to FHIR Resources

Has ONC produced any documents that tie elements in the USCDI to specific "resources" in the FHIR API specs? For example, what resource in FHIR would we use to grab the reason (and date) of each outpatient encounter (in office or telehealth)?

Assessment and Plan

I see that this version still contains a vague concept that is impossible to produce electronically in any kind of measurable way: Assessment and Plan.

Typically, the assessment and plan section of documentation is created as prose at the end of a progress note. Progress notes are already included in USCDI. Requiring “assessment and plan” as a USCDI data element is redundant and confusing. Assessment and plan as a data element does not exist as data in any EHR system I am aware of.

Please consider eliminating or explaining what this “data element” is.

USCDIv3_Comments.docx

DREDF Comments on USCDI v3

Please see attached the comments of Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) on USCDI v3.

 

Thank you,

Silvia Yee

DREDF Comments_USCDI v3_4-30-22_0.docx

This field is for general…

This field is for general comments on the USCDI. To submit new USCDI data classes and/or data elements, please use the USCDI ONDEC system: https://healthit.gov/ONDEC

DREDF Comments_USCDI v3_4-30-22.docx

HL7 Patient Empowerment PCD feedback on USCDI v3 and provenance

USCDI consists of categories of data elements representing information captured from different systems as well as by individuals. However, attribution of information created or supplied by an individual, as a patient or other role, is not reflected within the Provenance data class in the latest USCDI draft version 3 consisting of the following two (2) data elements: Author Time Stamp and Author Organization. We suggest at minimum the Author data element classified as Level 2 be added to USCDI v3. 

 

In addition to USCDI v3 Provenance not specifying Author, the data class is not fully inclusive of information created outside an organization (or changes to information such as updates). To better understand the origin and changes to data that can occur with or without exchange, and improve Provenance with context that identifies the type of actor or system creating or updating data, we recommend two (2) additional data elements: 

  1. Author Role to clarify the type of actor, such as patient, especially where information is contributed by individuals. Author should also accommodate device-generated data such as wearables. 
  2. Updates to understand whether data has changed either from the point of creation or in exchange

 

We also suggest ONC reframe Author Organization to be location-agnostic or account for environments outside an organization which may include a personal device or system.

 

COVID-19 pushed care delivery outside organizations with a boom of consumer-facing technologies to enable remote care and support emergent public health priorities. The pandemic also highlighted the need to understand factors outside of healthcare settings that have a large effect on health status (and outcomes). However, the current USCDI does not explicitly represent health and other data that might be contributed by individuals outside health care organizations, in spite of introducing new data classes and elements often dependent on individual/patient input. Several current or potential future data clases contain elements often asserted or informed by the patient including (but not limited to): 

 

  • Demographics (include identity, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity, and other data)
  • Health Insurance Information
  • Goals (Patient and SDOH)
  • Problems (includes SDOH Problems/Health Concerns and dates from diagnosis and resolution)
  • Health Status (Includes Health Concerns, Functional Status, Disability Status, Mental Function, and Smoking Status)
  • Clinical Tests (currently only reflects those performed in lab though perhaps could be expanded to include self-administered at-home tests)
  • Observations
  • Assessments and Plan of Treatment (includes SDOH assessment)
  • Advance Directives (not in USCDI v3)
  • Vital signs (e.g. where capture from remote sensing devices)

 

We see patient contributed data which is person-generated or self-reported as equivalent to clinical and administrative data recorded by health care professionals or systems. Therefore supporting provenance that captures the most granular metadata associated with data creation in USCDI is foundational for all information contributed by patients to be recognized and trusted. 

 

As ONC continues to prioritize health equity and patient engagement, the importance of data provenance will only increase as USCDI evolves and information used to identify, assess, treat, coordinate, and measure care increasingly relies on patient generated or contributed information. Updating the USCDI to ensure instances where data originate or are reported by individuals are appropriately attributed is a first step in ensuring PCD is recognized, represented, and leveraged to improve patient engagement, promote equity, and support broader national health care and interoperability goals.

 

Thank you for considering HL7 Patient Contributed Data (PCD) Committee (Sub-Workgroup of the HL7 Patient Empowerment Workgroup) comments in finalizing the USCDI v3.

 

American Occupational Therapy Association's Comment on USCDI v3

The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) appreciates the opportunity to comment on draft version 3 of the US Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI). AOTA is the national professional association representing the interests of more than 220,000 occupational therapists, students of occupational therapy (OT), and occupational therapy assistants. Occupational therapy defines “occupations” as any meaningful or purposeful activity, which can describe activities of daily living (ADLs), instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), work, school, hobbies, and social participation. The practice of occupational therapy is person-centered, evidence-based, and enables people of all ages to live life to its fullest by promoting health and purposeful activity. AOTA believes that understanding a person’s whole health, including function, environment, and context is crucial. 

AOTA is pleased to see the addition of Health Status as a data class. We support the inclusion of health concerns, functional status, disability status, mental function, pregnancy status, and smoking status as key components of health status. AOTA encourages these items to also be aligned with social determinants of health as these factors can have a significant impact on an individual’s status. 

We also support the utilization of the International Classification of Function (ICF) when establishing a framework for health data exchange in regards to function, cognition, and mobility. The Occupational Therapy Practice Framework: Domain and Process –4th edition (OTPF4) was developed based on concepts and terminology from the ICF in an effort to promote standardized interdisciplinary communication.  

 

Please see attached for full comments from AOTA

2022 USCID Final Comments.pdf

Comments on USCDI v3

Please see attached comments from the American Medical Informatics Association.

USCDIv3 final submitted GPJ.pdf

Legal Action Center's comments on USCDI v. 3

The Legal Action Center (“LAC”) is the only non-profit law and policy organization in the United States whose sole mission is to fight discrimination against people with histories of addiction, HIV/AIDS, or criminal records, and to advocate for sound public policies in these areas. LAC appreciates the opportunity to submit the attached comments on the ONC’s draft United States Core Data for Interoperability, Version 3. 

USCDI v3 - LAC comments - 4-30-2022 submission.pdf

Phreesia comments on USCDI v3

Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments on the USCDI Draft v3. Please see comments from Phreesia attached.

Phreesia Comments on ONC USCDI v3_vF_0.pdf

NASL Comments on USCDI v3

The National Association for the Support of Long Term Care (NASL) is pleased to offer our attached comments on the Draft USCDI v3. NASL is a national trade association representing providers of ancillary care and services operating in the long term and post-acute care (LTPAC) sector, to include the health IT developers/vendors who serve the majority of LTPAC providers. NASL and its members welcome the opportunity to work with ONC in further developing and expanding the standardized set of health data classes and data elements contained in the USCDI.

NASL Comments USCDI v3 FINAL 043022_0.pdf

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