On September 15, 2021, CMS published three FAQs which explain that CMS will not take enforcement action against certain payers for the payer-to-payer data exchange provision of the May 2020 Interoperability and Patient Access final rule until future rulemaking is finalized. CMS’ decision to exercise enforcement discretion for the payer-to-payer policy until future rulemaking occurs does not affect any other existing regulatory requirements and implementation timelines outlined in the final rule. Please review the relevant FAQs for details.

As of July 1, 2021, two of the policies from the May 2020 Interoperability and Patient Access final rule are now in effect. On April 30, 2021, the requirements for hospitals with certain EHR capabilities to send admission, discharge and transfer notifications to other providers went into effect. On July 1, 2021, CMS began to enforce requirements for certain payers to support Patient Access and Provider Directory APIs. Additional information is available on the FAQ page and in the other information available below.

CMS continues to build on its roadmap to improve interoperability and health information access for patients, providers, and payers. When implemented effectively, health information exchange (interoperability) can also reduce the burden of certain administrative processes, such as prior authorization. Our regulations will drive change in how clinical and administrative information is exchanged between payers, providers and patients, and will support more efficient care coordination.

The CMS regulations include policies which require or encourage payers to implement Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) to improve the electronic exchange of health care data – sharing information with patients or exchanging information between a payer and provider or between two payers. APIs can connect to mobile apps or to a provider electronic health record (EHR) or practice management system to enable a more seamless method of exchanging information. The regulations also include policies which may reduce burdens of the prior authorization process by increasing automation and encouraging improvements in policies and procedures to streamline decision making and communications.

On this page you can find links to resources that will be useful for implementing the APIs to support the policies of these rules. In particular we encourage stakeholders to use the general information for the Health Level 7 (HL7) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Implementation Guides (IGs) referenced in the CMS regulations.

LINK TO CMS: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Interoperability/index



September 16 2021 – The Florida Hospital Association, the state’s leading voice for hospitals and health systems, provided the following update today on COVID-19 in the state. Statewide data is derived from the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

HHS Statewide COVID-19 Update:

Current Confirmed COVID-19 Hospitalizations: 9,917

7-Day Change in COVID-19 Hospitalizations: -19.0%

14-Day Change in COVID-19 Hospitalizations: -31.5%

Total New COVID-19 Cases: 9,313

Inpatient Bed Availability (all patients): 17.7%

Inpatient ICU Bed Availability (adults): 10.7%

Percent of Inpatients with Confirmed COVID-19 (all patients): 21.2%

Source: COVID-19 Reported Patient Impact and Hospital Capacity by State

FHA Hospital Update:

The following information is being released by the Florida Hospital Association from a survey of hospitals completed Wednesday, September 15, 2021. This survey reflects responses from hospitals operating 78% of Florida’s acute care hospital beds.

  • COVID-19 patients in ICU: 25.0% (steady from 9/7)
  • COVID-19 patients on ventilator: 20.3% (2.4% increase from 9/7)
  • COVID-19 patients transferred from Nursing Homes/Long-term care: 3.3% (steady from 9/7)???????
  • Hospitals expecting critical staffing shortage in next 7 days: 72.8% (1.9% decrease from 9/7)
  • Hospitals expanding into non-care areas in next 7 days: 18.0% (6.4% decrease from 9/7)

“Our state has seen a nearly one-third reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations in the last two weeks with today marking the first time since July 30 that COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida have stood below 10,000,” said Mary C. Mayhew, President and CEO, Florida Hospital Association. “While the state is clearly on the right track, it should be noted that we still have roughly the same number of people hospitalized today as we did at the height of the surge last year. Getting vaccinated and receiving monoclonal antibody treatments for those who test positive remain the best protection against serious illness and possible hospitalization.” 

About the Florida Hospital Association Founded in 1927, the Florida Hospital Association is the leading voice for health care in the State of Florida. Through representation and advocacy, education and informational services, the Florida Hospital Association supports the mission of more than 200 hospitals and health care systems to provide the highest quality of care to the patients we serve. Led by President and CEO Mary Mayhew, the Florida Hospital Association has offices in Tallahassee and Orlando and is governed by a Board of Trustees and officers elected by the member institutions. For more information, visit www.fha.org. 



September 16 2021, on this day the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded over $48 million to 271 HRSA-supported health centers across 26 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia to expand HIV prevention and treatment, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) related services, outreach, and care coordination.

This investment is part of HHS’ Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. (EHE) initiative, which aims to reduce the number of new HIV infections in the United States by 90 percent by 2030. This funding will expand HIV prevention services that decrease the risk of HIV transmission in counties, territories, and states prioritized due to substantial HIV diagnosis. These awards will build upon fiscal year (FY) 2020 HRSA Health Center Program EHE awards by funding additional health centers in the EHE priority jurisdictions.

“HHS-supported community health centers are often a key point of entry to HIV prevention and treatment services, especially for underserved populations,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. “I am proud of the role they play in providing critical services to 1.2 million Americans living with HIV. Today’s awards will ensure equitable access to services free from stigma and discrimination, while advancing the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2025.”

The $48 million in awards include nearly $38 million in FY 2021 initial Ending the HIV Epidemic: Primary Care HIV Prevention (PCHP) funding to 108 HRSA-supported health centers not funded in FY 2020, and over $10 million in additional resources to expand the efforts of the 163 HRSA-supported health centers who received FY 2020 PCHP funding.

Awarded health centers will use the funding to conduct outreach and HIV testing, expand their workforce to increase access to and use of PrEP, and connect individuals who test positive for HIV to treatment. Health centers receiving these funds are encouraged to partner more closely with community organizations such as HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program-funded organizations and health departments to facilitate referrals to the health center for prevention services including testing and PrEP, and, for those testing positive for HIV, care soon after diagnosis.

“We know our Health Center Program award recipients are well-positioned to advance the Ending the HIV Epidemic in the U.S. initiative, with a particular focus on facilitating access to PrEP, because of their integrated service delivery model,” said Acting HRSA Administrator Diana Espinosa. “By integrating HIV services into primary care, and providing essential enabling services like language access or case management, HRSA-supported health centers increase access to care and improve health outcomes for patients living with HIV.”

Last year, HRSA-funded health centers provided nearly 2.5 million HIV tests to patients. Of those who tested positive for HIV for the first time, over 81 percent were successfully linked to treatment within 30 days. Nearly 190,000 patients living with HIV receive medical care services at health centers, and over 389,000 patients received PrEP-associated services.  

See a list of the FY 2021 PCHP award recipients: https://bphc.hrsa.gov/program-opportunities/primary-care-hiv-prevention/fy21-awards

For more information about HRSA’s role in the EHE initiative, visit: www.hrsa.gov/ending-hiv-epidemic.

To locate a HRSA Health Center Program supported health center, visit: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/.



September 16, 2021 – Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) announced that Broward Health President/CEO Shane Strum; Pier Sixty-Six Marine Director Megan Lagasse; and Kaufman Lynn Construction Director of Government Relations Ryan Reiter were named to the non-profit organization’s board of directors. 

Broward Health President/CEO Shane Strum

A recognized leader with decades of executive experience, Strum leads Broward Health, one of the 10 largest public health systems in the country. Prior to joining Broward Health, he served as chief of staff to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. A native of Broward County, Strum’s legacy of public service has spanned nearly 30 years. He also was previously vice chancellor of Keiser University and director of corporate and government relations at Nova Southeastern University.

A longtime supporter of CDTC, Lagasse is a member and former chair of the CDTC Transformers, a group of dedicated business professionals who give back and transform the lives of children with special needs. At Pier Sixty-Six, Lagasse is responsible for the operation of the world-class marina. A respected executive in the yachting industry, Lagasse was part of the team that created and continues to be involved with the Waterway Soirée, CDTC’s signature fundraising event.

Pier Sixty-Six Marine Director Megan Lagasse

Reiter, a veteran of the United States Marine Corps who proudly served a tour in Iraq, is responsible for government relations at Kaufman Lynn Construction, a full-service construction management firm. Previously, he managed government affairs for Children’s Services Council of Broward County, advocating on behalf of children and families in the community, both at the local and statewide level.

Kaufman Lynn Construction Director of Government Relations Ryan Reiter

“We are privileged to have these three dynamic and respected leaders join our board,” said Ana Calderon-Randazzo, PhD., executive director of Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center. “They each bring a wealth of diverse experience and a passion for children, healthcare and CDTC. They will be a tremendous asset to us.”

About CDTC                                                                                                                                 

Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center (CDTC) is a not-for-profit that serves nearly 11,000 clients with special healthcare needs in Broward County annually. As a facility of Broward Health, CDTC’s mission is to promote the optimal health and well-being of children with special healthcare needs by providing comprehensive prevention, intervention, and treatment services. CDTC is a recognized National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) offering a unique system of care for infants, children, youth and women with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and developmental delays. For more information, visit ChildrensDiagnostic.org.



September 16, 2021, STUART, Fla. – Cleveland Clinic Martin Health is offering free prostate cancer screenings on September 28.  

Prostate cancer is highly curable if detected early. Screenings are recommended for: 

  • Black males 40 to 75 years of age, or have a family history of prostate cancer and are between the ages of 30 and 75; 
  • White males 50 to 75 years of age, or have a family history of prostate cancer and are between the ages of 40 and 75; 

This screening includes a PSA blood test and digital rectal exam. Men who already carry a diagnosis of prostate cancer are not eligible for this screening. 

Appointments are required, as space is limited. Call 772.223.5945, ext. 13736 to reserve a spot. Screenings will take place between 4:30 and 6 p.m. at Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, located at 501 East Osceola Street in Stuart, Florida.

About Cleveland Clinic Martin Health
Cleveland Clinic Martin Health is part of the Cleveland Clinic Florida region. It features three hospitals with 521 total beds, a free-standing emergency center, and numerous outpatient centers and clinics across Martin and St. Lucie counties on Florida’s east coast. Cleveland Clinic Martin Health offers preventive, primary and acute hospital care, as well as cancer care, a heart center, wellness and rehabilitation services, and much more. Learn more at clevelandclinic.org/martinhealth.