Information Blocking
Under the 21st Century Cures Act, a practice, action, or interference (other than required by law or covered by an exception) that prevents access, exchange, or use of electronic health information.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- Compliance Program
- Primary sources
- 2
- Workspace handoff
- compliance binder →
Where this comes up
Compliance committees and practice managers operate at this level — written policy, workforce training, sanction policy, monitoring and auditing cadence, response and corrective action. The seven elements of an effective compliance program (OIG) are the scaffolding; this term lives somewhere on that scaffold.
Full definition
What it is in practice
ONC Information Blocking defines the prohibition and the eight exceptions. Providers identified as information blockers may face disincentives (CMS) and may be referred to HHS-OIG.
How it shows up in your practice
Confirm patient portal access policies, API access for third-party apps, and record-release timelines align with ONC requirements. Document any exception relied upon.
Sources
- ONC — Information Blockinghttps://www.healthit.gov/topic/information-blocking
- ONC — 21st Century Cures Act Rulehttps://www.healthit.gov/topic/oncs-cures-act-final-rule
Document information-blocking exceptions in the Compliance Binder
Open compliance binder →Related terms
- HIPAA & PrivacyPatient Right of AccessThe HIPAA right of an individual to inspect and obtain a copy of their PHI in a designated record set.
- Compliance ProgramEHI (Electronic Health Information)Electronic protected health information to the extent that it would be included in a designated record set, plus other identifying health information held by an actor.
- Compliance ProgramFHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)HL7 standard for exchanging healthcare data electronically through RESTful APIs and structured resources.
D3rx is a healthcare-billing and compliance research aid maintained by D3rx Inc. Articles are drafted by an LLM (Anthropic Claude) against primary HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and state-regulator publications, and reviewed for restraint and source fidelity by the D3rx team.
Reviewer status: a named credentialed reviewer (CHC, CHPC, or healthcare attorney) is being engaged. Until that engagement is finalized, this page does not claim credentialed review.
Related across the archive
- GlossaryEHI (Electronic Health Information)Electronic protected health information to the extent that it would be included in a designated record set, plus other identifying health information held by an actor.
- GlossaryFHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)HL7 standard for exchanging healthcare data electronically through RESTful APIs and structured resources.
- GlossaryPatient Right of AccessThe HIPAA right of an individual to inspect and obtain a copy of their PHI in a designated record set.
- RegulationInformation Blocking Rule Overview (45 CFR Part 171)The 21st Century Cures Act information blocking provisions and the ONC rule prohibiting actions by providers, health IT developers, and HINs/HIEs that interfere with electronic health information access, exchange, or use.
- ComplianceHIPAA Right of Access Requests (45 CFR § 164.524): Respond Inside 30 DaysA 2026 HIPAA right-of-access procedure citing 45 CFR § 164.524, the 30-day window, OCR Right of Access Initiative settlements ($3,500–$240,000 through 2025), and the patient response packet.
- GlossaryUSCDIUnited States Core Data for Interoperability — the ONC-defined data set required to be exchangeable by certified EHRs.
- GlossaryPatient PortalA secure web-based application that lets patients access portions of their health information and communicate with the practice.
- BillingWhat to Do When a Payer Says You're UnderbillingGot a letter saying you're underbilling? Here's what it actually means, whether you should worry, and what action to take.
This glossary entry is a research aid for billing and compliance staff. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice and does not replace counsel. References cited link to primary sources at HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and the relevant payer or industry body.