Patient Data Access News

Did the 21st Century Cures Act Patient Data Access Rules Hurt Experience?

One academic medical center saw more patient complaints after the 21st Century Cures Act patient data access rules changed how patients see lab results.

did patient data access rules hurt patient experience

Source: Getty Images

By Sara Heath

- The information blocking rule under the 21st Century Cures Act, which eased patient data access, may have had the unintended consequence of disrupting the patient experience, with a new study in JAMA Health Forum showing an increase in patient complaints after the rule’s rollout.

In particular, the information blocking rule may have made it more likely that a patient would get abnormal and potentially upsetting test results via the patient portal before they could meet with a doctor. This may have prompted anxiety and, in turn, the complaints, the researchers said.

This was an inherent risk with the rollout of the information blocking rule, some experts predicted. While patient data access is a fundamental right, many expressed concern about a patient viewing abnormal test results digitally—something the Cures Act facilitates—without the consult of a doctor or other medical professional. These test results could be upsetting, clouding the patient experience.