Special thanks to Matt Becker, our IT Committee Chair, who was one of the stakeholders invited to attend the recent CMS meeting and for sharing insights.
On June 3, CMS leadership gathered with federal health officials and industry stakeholders in Washington, D.C. to announce a sweeping set of policy initiatives aimed at modernizing the nation’s health IT infrastructure. This high-profile, invite-only event marked a pivotal moment for digital health innovation and interoperability.
Key CMS Policy Commitments
CMS outlined five major initiatives designed to lay the foundation for a future-ready, patient-centered healthcare ecosystem:
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Enhancing CMS’ Participation in Trusted Data Exchange:
CMS committed to deeper involvement in secure, interoperable data sharing. While details remain under discussion, this could include collaboration with TEFCA Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) or other health information exchanges, with the goal of improving quality reporting, claims data exchange, and efforts to reduce Medicare fraud and abuse.
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Building a Dynamic, Interoperable National Provider Directory:
CMS plans to create a comprehensive, up-to-date directory of healthcare providers, addressing long-standing challenges with accuracy and maintenance. This initiative aims to help patients and providers reliably find and connect with the right care teams, a critical step for seamless data exchange and care coordination.
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Modernizing Medicare.gov’s Identity Verification:
New digital identity solutions, such as federated logins similar to Login.gov, will streamline access for beneficiaries, providers, and payers across Medicare systems, improving both security and user experience.
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Expanding Blue Button 2.0 Patient Access API:
CMS will enhance the Blue Button 2.0 API, enabling Medicare beneficiaries to more easily and securely share their claims data with third-party apps and services. This supports greater patient empowerment, transparency, and innovation in digital health tools.
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Transitioning Data at the Point of Care to General Availability:
The Data at the Point of Care program, which allows providers to access Medicare claims data directly within their workflow, will move from pilot to full-scale implementation. This promises to improve clinical decision-making and reduce administrative burden.
Mixed Reactions and Open Questions
Stakeholders at the meeting expressed both optimism and skepticism. Many welcomed the bold vision and the commitment to public-private collaboration. However, others noted that some announcements lacked detail, especially regarding CMS’ exact role in TEFCA and how the national provider directory will be built and maintained. Key questions remain about funding, incentives, and technical implementation.
Why This Matters for Our Members
These initiatives signal a major shift in how health IT will support care delivery, data exchange, and regulatory compliance especially for long-term and post-acute care providers. As companies that develop and support EHRs, billing systems, and other critical software for these settings, our members will be directly impacted by these changes.
CMS is actively seeking public input on its Health Technology Ecosystem Request for Information (RFI) through June 16. This is a vital opportunity for our community to shape the future of digital health policy, advocate for practical solutions, and ensure our unique needs are addressed.
We encourage all IT Committee members and stakeholders to review the RFI and consider submitting comments. Your expertise is crucial as CMS charts the next chapter in health IT modernization.
Thank you again to Matt Becker, IT Committee Chair, for his leadership and for keeping our committee informed and engaged on these critical developments.