When Cures Act dates and deadlines first arrived, Exym customers began reaching out to ask for guidance on what the Cures Act is, and what important dates they should be aware of so that their agencies would remain compliant. We compiled this helpful list of dates and graphics from the healthit.gov website as a point of reference for our customers who need more information about the Cures Act. It is our hope that business system admin and front office staff can use this information to update operations quickly and remain in compliance.

What is the Cures Act?

The 21st Century Cures Act was signed on December 13, 2016, with the purpose of promoting and funding the acceleration of research into preventing and curing serious illnesses; accelerating drug and medical device development; attempting to address the opioid abuse crisis; and improving mental health service delivery. The act includes a number of provisions that push for greater interoperability, adoption of electronic health records (EHRs), and support for human services programs.

The goal of the Cures Act is to make patients the center of their care through access, transparency, interoperability and more!

What is Information Blocking?

The Cures Act defines information blocking as business, technical, and organizational practices that prevent or materially discourage the access, exchange or use of electronic health information (EHI) when an actor knows, or should know, that these practices are likely to interfere with access.

There are some exceptions to these information guidelines, as listed in the chart below.

Read more about information blocking on the health.gov page.

What are the ONC's Cures Act Regulatory Dates?

This chart is from the ONC Cures Act Regulatory Website.

Cures Act Compliance Date Extensions

On October 29, 2020, the ONC announced that they were extending compliance dates for information blocking and the certification program due to the Covid pandemic. The new dates are listed below are from the official healthit.gov Cures Act communication.

Exym Supports Cures Act Compliance for Business System Admin

Exym has many features that simplify information blocking and Cures Act compliance for business system admin. For example, Exym Engage facilitates telehealth therapy, with the ability to collect electronic signatures and digitally exchange documents exchange with clients easily and securely. This feature supports compliance with Information Blocking by allowing clients to easily request and receive their records electronically. Furthermore, our patient portal software enhances accessibility and convenience, as clients can access requested Exym-based records through unique URLs on any internet-connected device.

Telehealth Therapy with Exym Engage

If your agency is transitioning to a telehealth therapy approach, it is highly recommended that you explore the possibilities offered by Exym Engage. This innovative platform not only ensures compliance with the Cures Act, but also provides unlimited access to telehealth software, equipped with an array of impressive features, including:

• HIPAA-compliant video chat
• Seamless document exchanges during sessions
• Screen sharing functionality
• A virtual whiteboard for interactive sessions
• A private clinician notepad for efficient note-taking
• A virtual waiting room that enables patients to access organization-specific materials while waiting

Curious to learn more about Exym Engage and its incredible capabilities? Click here to discover how this powerful tool can revolutionize your agency's operations.

Electronic Signatures Capability and Digital Document Exchange are a Front Office Dream

Your front office will love how easy it is to collect signatures and communicate with clients any time, anywhere, on any device. Exym makes it easy for business system admin to keep records up to date and collaborate with care teams. Exym's EHR software takes the daily operations burden out of:

• E-Signature functionality with dual-authentication
• HIPAA Compliance
•  E-signature and document exchange on all Exym Activity Documents
• Getting signatures from contacts associated with each client
• Figuring out compliance with CURES Act information blocking by allowing clients to request and receive their records electronically
• Intake paperwork, which front office staff can do directly with clients and families

Patient Portal Software

Exym Engage also supports compliance with Cures Act information blocking requirements through the use of a convenient and accessible patient portal which:

• Allows clients to access requested Exym-based records
• Has unique URLs which allow you to build custom buttons on your website so patients can access their specific portals
• Lets clinicians and business system admin upload documents to be shared, or select Exym records at the clinician’s discretion
• Works on any internet-connected device

More About Exym

Exym is a comprehensive EHR software solution designed specifically for behavioral health agencies. Trusted for 20+ years, our intuitive and customizable software empowers providers to improve client outcomes, manage revenue cycles, and increase agency efficiency. Exym allows you to spend more time on what matters most- the clients in your care.

If you'd like to see how Exym can streamline front office operations for your business system admin, and make Cures Act compliance easy, visit our Operations Page for more information. You can also request to book a demo with an expert at any time.