What the CURES Act Means for EHI and Information Sharing
The CURES Act, enacted in 2016, focuses on streamlining healthcare information sharing, improving mental health services, addressing the opioid crisis, and enhancing privacy protections. It promotes electronic health information (EHI) accessibility while prohibiting information blocking practices. Information blocking encompasses any interference with EHI flow, primarily in electronic health records. ClinicMind, an ONC-certified solution, ensures EHI privacy and accessibility, streamlining practice management and compliance with CURES Act guidelines.
The New 988 Mental Health Crisis Line
The 988 Crisis Lifeline, launched on July 1, 2022, is a suicide prevention network connecting over 200 crisis call centers across the U.S. It provides immediate access to mental health professionals for individuals in crisis, offering an alternative to involving police and first responders in mental health situations. While promising, concerns include the potential dispatch of police officers in emergencies, urging the need for continued improvements to the crisis response system.