Eyecare has fallen behind the rest of healthcare when it comes to electronic data sharing. While physicians and hospitals routinely exchange Consolidated Clinical Document Architecture (CCDA) summaries—records that include medical problems, medications, allergies, and lab results—most eyecare providers still rely on faxing reports, emailing PDFs, or uploading documents to small, payer-specific portals to share patient information.
These methods allow another office to read the report, but they do not allow the data to be electronically consumed by the broader healthcare system. This lack of interoperability isolates eyecare from the broader healthcare system and exposes practices to growing compliance risks as federal enforcement of information-blocking rules expands.
Information blocking—and why it matters now
Under the 21st Century Cures Act, any action that prevents the lawful exchange of electronic health information (EHI) can be considered information blocking. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) began enforcing penalties for EHR vendors and health systems in 2024, and provider enforcement is expected to follow soon. Penalties can reach up to $1 million per violation.1
Although the OIG has not yet issued fines, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) reported that, as of August 31, 2025, it had received more than 1,300 possible information-blocking claims through its reporting portal and is working with OIG and the Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (HHS‑ASTP).2
In short, eyecare providers who cannot exchange patient data in the same electronic format used by other medical providers may face compliance risk, even when care is delivered appropriately.
A look at the lag in eyecare
Most eyecare EHRs meet only the United States Core Data for Interoperability, Version 1 (USCDI I) standards—the first stage of the government’s interoperability framework—which didn’t include specialty-specific medical data.3 The most important information gathered during an eye exam simply wasn’t represented.
That landscape has since changed. USCDI III, which took effect on January 1, 2026, expands the required data elements to include nearly all information documented during an eye exam.4
This means that EHR systems must meet the USCDI III standard to be considered compliant under the ONC Health IT Certification Program and to support the expanded set of required data elements.4 While this represents a shift for eyecare, many other medical specialties have already been exchanging this level of information for years, including full clinical notes, imaging reports, and device data.
Because eyecare software was developed outside hospital systems, few have invested in the infrastructure to exchange CCDs or participate in national health-information networks. As a result, eye doctors often cannot view systemic lab results, medication changes, or care-team updates that other providers see automatically.
This isn’t just a technology gap—it’s a compliance and patient-care problem.
A national solution designed for eyecare
Eyecare has historically had limited access to the national health information exchange infrastructure. While multiple Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) participate in nationwide clinical data exchange under federal interoperability frameworks, most have focused on hospital systems and large enterprise EHR platforms rather than eyecare-specific software.5
Examples of currently recognized QHINs include:6
- Kno2
- eHealth Exchange:
- Health Gorilla
- Konza
- Epic Nexus
- CommonWell Health Alliance
- MedAllies
However, Kno2 is currently the only network actively working with eyecare EHR systems, which offers a low-cost, EHR-agnostic option that does not require switching software. It connects through secure, FHIR-based data channels, giving eyecare providers immediate access to CCDs and enabling real-time sharing with other healthcare providers.7
In short, it gives eyecare a seat at the table—without costly system overhauls.
Steps eyecare providers can take toward compliance
- Confirm your EHR’s interoperability status: Ask your vendor whether your system can send and receive CCDs through Direct Secure Messaging (DSM) in compliance with USCDI III standards. Many systems still fall short. Request staff training to ensure the process is efficient and reliable.
- Bridge the gap with a low-cost, EHR-agnostic solution: The Healthcare Registries' Universal Co-management App allows secure CCD exchange, even when your EHR lacks the function. Connecting through a QHIN, such as Kno2, ensures compliance and continuity of care.
- Meet data requests confidently: When another provider or patient requests information, the Registry lets you send or receive the CCD electronically in seconds—just as other medical fields do.
- Educate your staff: Make sure your team understands what a CCD is, where to find it, and how to share it securely. Compliance depends on team awareness.
- Improve patient outcomes: Accessing CCDAs—the universal format for sharing health data—reduces staff burden and supports more patient-centered care.
- Reduce audit risk: Many eyecare providers face record audits because they fax diabetic eye exam reports to primary care offices. Faxes can’t be read by electronic systems used for regulatory verification. Sending CCDAs through a system like Kno2 eliminates audit triggers.
- Stay informed: The OIG and ONC continue expanding oversight. Early adoption of interoperable tools keeps practices ahead of enforcement and penalties.
Conclusion
Interoperability is the future of healthcare—and the present for nearly every other specialty. Eyecare can no longer remain on the sidelines while data sharing defines compliance, outcomes, and reputation.
The Healthcare Registries' Universal Co-management App offers an accessible, affordable way for eyecare providers to join the national exchange of health information. Adopting it now ensures compliance and leadership in modern, integrated patient care.
Key takeaways
- CCDs are already used across healthcare to coordinate patient care.
- Eyecare’s EHRs have been slow to support interoperability.
- Non-compliance may soon trigger information-blocking penalties.
- The Healthcare Registries' Universal Co-management App is the only working, low-cost, EHR-agnostic option for eyecare today.
- Early adoption ensures both compliance and improved patient outcomes.
