What is the definition of information blocking as dictated by the Cures Act?

The correct choice accurately captures the essence of information blocking as defined by the Cures Act. Information blocking refers to practices that prevent individuals from effectively receiving, sharing, or utilizing electronic health information (EHI). The Cures Act aims to promote interoperability and secure access to EHI, ensuring that patients and healthcare providers can freely exchange necessary information to improve care coordination and outcomes.

This definition emphasizes the importance of transparency and accessibility in health information, reflecting the intent of the legislation to empower patients and enhance their ability to participate in their own healthcare. Restricting access to EHI can undermine patient care and inhibit the collaborative nature of medical practice, which the Cures Act seeks to rectify by addressing such information blocking practices.

The other options, while they touch on aspects of health information access, do not fully represent the comprehensive nature of information blocking as defined by the Cures Act. For instance, preventing patients from accessing their medical records is a specific scenario and not a broad definition. Similarly, restricting the sale of health information and complicating electronic health information access are not aligned with the primary concern of information blocking, which is about the flow of EHI between parties.