# HHS Finalizes Health IT Certification Rule

HHS announced the HTI-5 Final Rule on October 26, 2026, reducing administrative compliance burdens for developers participating in the ONC Health IT Certification Program. HHS projects more than **$1.5 billion in regulatory cost savings**. The announcement does not specify the effective date or detail the certification changes, so health IT contractors should review the final rule text before changing certification procedures or relying on the changes for contract eligibility.

- The rule is relevant to developers and contractors whose products or services depend on ONC certification; the specific program requirements affected are not detailed in the announcement.
- Companies can use the projected savings as an indication of reduced administrative burden, but should confirm the final rule’s provisions before adjusting compliance plans or bid assumptions.
- No effective date is specified in the announcement, so procurement teams should not assume when the changes apply.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Healthcare, Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Policy
**Published:** October 26, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC)

### Key Quotes
> Through HTI-5, we have taken decisive action to significantly lower the administrative compliance burden for developers so that they can spend more of their time developing solutions that improve interoperability, automation, and better healthcare for Americans.
> — Tom Keane, M.D., National Coordinator for Health IT

### Sources
- [HHS Finalizes HTI-5 Deregulatory Rule to Encourage Innovation and Reduce Health IT Certification Program Compliance Costs | HHS.gov](https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/hhs-finalizes-hti-5-deregulatory-rule.html) - HHS