This September, the Social Security Administration plans to implement an expanded exchange of electronic disability claims data through contracts it awarded to several regional health information networks in February 2010, Government Health IT reports.
Currently, SSA has access to data from an existing partnership with MedVirginia, a regional health information exchange in Virginia, according to Kitt Winter, director of the health IT division at SSA's Office of the CIO. Under the expanded exchange, SSA will be able to tap into patient information from 32 more facilities in 11 additional states.
Like MedVirginia, the new regional health data organizations will exchange patient disability data with SSA through the Nationwide Health Information Network.
According to Government Health IT, claims processing times at SSA have dropped by 18% since the administration began collecting health information through NHIN.
Winter said the exchange of patient data with SSA also would help health care providers meet meaningful use criteria. Health care providers need to demonstrate meaningful use of electronic health records to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments through the 2009 economic stimulus package (Mosquera, Government Health IT, 1/26).