Health IT & Interoperability

CMS’ new Medicaid interim final rule operationalizing 80-hour/month work, education, work-program, or community-service requirements for adults ages 19–64 raises immediate health IT and VBC execution risks: states, MCOs, providers, and community partners will need reliable eligibility, exemption, documentation, and redetermination data flows to avoid coverage churn that disrupts attribution, quality measurement, and population health management (Healthcare Finance). At the same time, ONC’s CY 2026 Hospital OQR eCQM updates—including the forthcoming Emergency Care Access and Timeliness measure—signal continued federal pressure on hospitals to strengthen EHR-based quality reporting infrastructure, with direct implications for VBC contracts tied to access, throughput, and outcomes (ONC eCQM update