Social Security budgets $24M to exchange health data with hospitals, HIEs

The Social Security Administration has set aside $24 million to expand a program under which it contracts with hospitals and health information exchanges willing to electronically share electronic health data on patients seeking disability benefits.

Each year, SSA makes more than 15 million patient-authorized requests for medical information from treating providers, but most of this exchange is paper based and as such is very inefficient, SSA officials say. They’re hoping the use of health IT will greatly improve the process.

SSA is looking for a provider willing to link to the agency via local HIEs and the Nationwide Health Information Network. Contracts for the project, proposals for which are due Sept. 18, will be funded through the stimulus law.

Using the NHIN, providers will get a standardized electronic request for medical records along with a patient’s authorization. Providers will then be able to automatically respond to SSA requests with a standardized Continuity of Care Document.

To be eligible for the project, providers must use a certified electronic health record app and be able to demonstrate the technical ability to create a sample Continuity of Care Document with de-identified EMR information.