The Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration have jointly introduced a new initiative that aims to help the VA share electronic medical records with Social Security disability processors.The new health IT initiative’s goal is implement an automated process to obtain veterans’ medical records through electronic means, VA said Wednesday.
SSA works to access nearly 15 million medical records from healthcare organizations every year to process nearly 3 million disability claims.
“VA’s partnership with Social Security will ultimately improve the quality of life for veterans and their dependents by enabling veterans to share their health information within a safe and secure health-related consumer application,†said David Shulkin, VA health undersecretary.
The partnership uses VA’s VLER Health Exchange under the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record Program to help the VA and participating community providers search for veterans’ health information from each other for treatment.
VLER Health Exchange currently shares health information with more than 79 community healthcare partners.
