On July 25, 2024, HHS announced it had reorganized its technology, cybersecurity, data, and AI strategy and policy functions to “streamline and bolster technology, cybersecurity, data, and artificial intelligence (AI) strategy and policy functions.” Historically, responsibility for policy and operations has been distributed across the ONC, ASA, and ASPR. Now those responsibilities have been consolidated into the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, or ASTP/ONC.

In response to this announcement, the EHR Association issued the following statement:

“In establishing ASTP/ONC, HHS is acknowledging the increasingly important role of health IT in the care delivery system since the inception of ONC 20 years ago, as well as the critical role electronic patient data plays in the provision of and access to quality care. ONC has collaborated with the health IT industry as we have expanded patient access to their data, the exchange of health information between numerous stakeholders, and now the rapidly growing influence of AI.

“Along with great potential, these changes bring heightened privacy and security risks and the need for a fresh approach to policy, standards, and strategy to address the complex nature of health information technology. The EHR Association believes the new ASTP/ONC can add great value in expanding even further the work they do to coordinate health IT-related policy across the Federal government.

“We look forward to collaborating with ASTP/ONC as we work toward our shared goals of continually improving the quality and efficiency of care through safe, innovative interoperable health IT adoption and use.”