Tech giants, providers back CMS health tech ecosystem initiative

CMS unveils interoperability framework

CMS announced a voluntary interoperability framework with the goal of advancing patient access and empowerment, provider access and delegation, data availability, network connectivity, and security. CMS described the criteria as a "voluntary blueprint for modern health data exchange that puts patients and providers first."

For example, by July 4, 2026, the framework requires participating entities to provide or facilitate access to data using FHIR APIs, chart notes and clinical documents as FHIR attachments and provide appointment and encounter notifications using FHIR subscriptions.

Entities that voluntarily meet the CMS criteria will become "CMS aligned networks" if they showcase the criteria objectives in the first quarter of 2026. More than 20 companies, including athenahealth, Innovaccer and Epic, pledged to meet the framework criteria.

"We pledge to work collaboratively to implement the CMS Interoperability Framework and become a CMS Aligned Network," the companies promised. "We commit to empowering patients, providers, and their apps -- and, where appropriate, payers -- with real-time access to complete and secure health information, in ways that protect patient privacy and follow applicable standards and regulations, without friction or delay."

Additionally, 11 health systems and seven EHR vendors committed to participate, pledging to enable customer participation in CMS aligned networks and to "kill the clipboard," or replace paper intake forms with digital check-in methods. Participants include Intermountain Health, Amazon, Cleveland Clinic and CVS Health.

Tech companies pledge to promote better health outcomes with apps

In addition to the interoperability framework, CMS announced efforts to champion improved health outcomes with the help of technology.

More than 30 companies pledged to help CMS achieve its goals by delivering several key services to beneficiaries, including diabetes and obesity management technology, conversational AI assistants and digital check-in tools.

For example, companies like Noom, Oura and Welldoc collectively pledged to "connect to CMS Aligned Networks or personal health apps and, with patient consent, securely access relevant health data to deliver personalized support."

"Our diabetes and obesity tools will use this history to provide tailored guidance -- offering direct assistance when appropriate and directing patients to care from a health professional when needed," the pledge continued.

Anthropic, Google, OpenAI, ZocDoc and UnitedHealth Group were among the companies that pledged to build conversational AI assistants that connect with CMS aligned networks.

Additionally, Apple, Samsung, CVS Health, Google and other companies pledged to "kill the clipboard" by empowering patients to retrieve and share their health records through QR codes or Smart Health Cards using FHIR bundles.

"We have the tools and information available now to empower patients to improve their outcomes and their healthcare experience,” CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, M.D., said in a press release.

"For too long, patients in this country have been burdened with a healthcare system that has not kept pace with the disruptive innovations that have transformed nearly every other sector of our economy. With the commitments made by these entrepreneurial companies today, we stand ready for a paradigm shift in the U.S. healthcare system for the benefit of patients and providers."

Jill McKeon has covered healthcare cybersecurity and privacy news since 2021.