Veterans Affairs Department, Health Care Providers Agree to Share Patient Data

The Department of Veterans Affairs and 13 medical providers have agreed to increase data sharing to improve health care for former warfighters.

The pledge allows private-sector clinicians to access VA data to ascertain whether a patient is a veteran and inform them about benefits they are eligible for, Federal News Network reported Friday.

Health care systems participating in the pledge include Atrium Health, Inova, Kaiser Permanente Health Plan and Hospitals and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Officials said the agreement will enable veterans to receive the same level of care between VA and non-VA providers. 

Shereef Elnahal, the agency’s undersecretary for health, noted that decision-making on treatment could improve from “seamless, immediate access” to a patient’s medical records.

VA leaders told Federal News Network that the agreement could also help the agency provide free care to veterans covered under the Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act and the Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care and Treatment Act.