The 21st Century Cures Act required the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) to support nationwide data exchange. The HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) designated the Sequoia Project as the Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining TEFCA. On December 12, 2023, on behalf of the ONC, the Sequoia Project designated the country’s first Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) to sign the Common Agreement and provide the technical and administrative backbone to support TEFCA-based exchange. The newly designated QHINs include: eHealth Exchange; Epic Nexus; Health Gorilla; KONZA National Network; and MedAllies. In early 2024, ONC and the RCE plan to release substantive updates to the Common Agreement, Qualified Technical Framework (QTF) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
In this presentation, Zoe Barber, Policy Director for the Sequoia Project, will explain what TEFCA is, Sequoia’s Project’s role as RCE, and what to expect in 2024. Jay Nakashima, Executive Director of eHealth Exchange, will provide insight into the rigorous application, vetting and testing process for QHINs and how eHealth Exchange will be implementing TEFCA participation for potential participants and subparticipants. Melissa Soliz, data privacy and interoperability attorney with Coppersmith Brockelman, will provide the legal background for TEFCA and what legal and compliance representatives of organizations interested in TEFCA participation should consider.
Zoe Barber is the Policy Lead for The Sequoia Project, the ONC TEFCA Recognized Coordinating Entity. Zoe is an experienced health IT professional with demonstrated expertise in health information exchange and interoperability.
Jay Nakashima, Executive Director, leads the eHealth Exchange, the nation’s largest health information network which operates in all 50 states. Incubated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as an ONC initiative, the eHealth Exchange is now an independent non-profit health technology firm dedicated to the public good. After years in leadership roles at providers, payers, and health IT vendors, Jay now focuses on improving interoperability to improve patient care.
Melissa Soliz, a data privacy and interoperability attorney, is a partner with Coppersmith Brockelman, PLC in Phoenix, Arizona. Her regulatory health law practice focuses on compliance with data privacy, access and interoperability laws (such as HIPAA, 42 C.F.R. Part 2, the ONC Information Blocking Rule, the CMS Interoperability mandates, and state laws), health information exchange (HIE) (including the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA)), behavioral health/substance use disorder law issues, data breaches and OCR investigations, as well as clinical research compliance and contracting. Melissa regularly speaks in local and national forums on these topics and has been active in state and federal policy making on data privacy and HIE issues. She is the President of the Arizona Society of Healthcare Attorneys and is recognized by Chambers, Best Lawyers© and Southwest Super Lawyers: Rising Stars© for her work in health law. She is a Phoenix Business Journal (PBJ), 40 under 40 recipient (Class of 2023) and 2023 Managed Healthcare Executive: Emerging Leader in Healthcare.
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The State Bar of Arizona does not approve or accredit CLE activities for the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirement. This activity may qualify for up to 1 hour of CLE credit, 0 hours of ethics, toward your annual requirement for the State Bar of Arizona.