29 Jun Health Data News Roundup: TEFCA and Data Standardization; dQM Readiness Costs; and AI Needs Human Connection

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Roundup from IMAT Solutions. This week’s healthcare data news highlights how healthcare organizations are preparing for the next phase of digital transformation through stronger interoperability, data standardization, responsible AI adoption, and digital quality measurement. As new technologies and reporting requirements continue to evolve, organizations are increasingly focused on building trusted data foundations that support better decision making, operational efficiency, and improved patient outcomes.

Data Standardization Key to Health Tech Ecosystem, TEFCA’s Interoperability Goals
Together, the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem initiative and TEFCA are creating a pathway from voluntary innovation to nationwide interoperability, but true success hinges on consistent data standards, according to xtelligent Health IT and EHR.

Health Systems Must Shift AI Use from Automation to Transformation
While healthcare investments in AI are two to three times that of other industries, most providers focus AI’s power on tackling administrative tasks, but need to put care transformation front-and-center, according to Healthcare IT News.

Health IT Answers: Why Delaying dQM Readiness Could Cost More Than Preparing Top Takeaways
Healthcare organizations should consider not only the cost of preparing for digital quality measures (dQMs), but also the operational costs of maintaining fragmented data environments and manual reporting processes, according to this IMAT blog post about our recent Health IT Answers guest article.

ONC Launches Funding Opportunity to Accelerate AI and Improve Healthcare Data Interoperability
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has published a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO) under the Leading Edge Acceleration Projects (LEAP) in Health Information Technology (Health IT), according to Healthcare Innovation.

Harnessing AI to Foster Human Connection in Healthcare
Healthcare organizations can leverage AI to identify at-risk members and facilitate ongoing human contact, emphasizing relationship-centered interventions over mere process optimization for better health and cost outcomes, according to Healthcare Innovation.

Clover Gets Another MA Star Ratings Bump Following CMS Recalculation
Clover Health’s PPO, the company’s largest contract covering 97% of members, already secured a Medicare Advantage star ratings boost from 3.5 to 4.5 stars following litigation, according to Becker’s Payer Issues.

These healthcare data trends reinforce the growing importance of trusted data, interoperability, and thoughtful technology adoption across the healthcare ecosystem. Whether preparing for digital quality measures, advancing AI initiatives, strengthening data exchange, or improving patient engagement, healthcare organizations are increasingly recognizing that long-term success depends on high-quality, actionable data. Organizations that invest in strong data foundations today will be better positioned to improve performance, adapt to future requirements, and deliver better outcomes.