The Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC) released the
Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions to Unleash Prosperity (HTI-5) Proposed Rule on December 22, 2025. Public comments are due February 27, 2026.
Per the
ASTP website, the HTI-5 Proposed Rule includes deregulatory actions that update the ONC Health IT Certification Program to:
- Reduce burden on health IT developers by streamlining ASTP/ONC’s voluntary Health IT Certification Program by removing redundant requirements;
- Revise definitions to better promote electronic health information access, exchange, and use so that patients’ access to their data is not blocked; and
- Advance a new foundation of AI-enabled interoperability solutions through modernized standards and certification.
In addition, the agency states that proposed rule enables ASTP/ONC to reset the Certification Program’s regulatory scope and establish a new foundation on which to build Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®)-based API requirements in the future. Collectively, the proposals in the HTI-5 Proposed Rule directly align with the President’s goals as outlined in Executive Order (EO) 14192 (Unleashing Prosperity through Deregulation) and EO 14267 (Reducing Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers).
AHCA/NCAL has been tracking the prior HTI interoperability rulemaking activity and has commented extensively highlighting the unique challenges and opportunities facing AHCA/NCAL member organizations in realizing the full benefits of interoperable HIT to improve care and operational efficiency and will be submitting comments on this HTI-5 proposal as well.
AHCA/NCAL members with questions or suggestions regarding this proposed rule and the association’s comment letter may contact
Dan Ciolek, Associate Vice President, Therapy Services.