Social Security Administration: Exchanging Electronic Health Information Across The NwHIN

February 9, 2012
The U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) described its health information technology program in which it partners with health care provider organizations, hospitals, and health information exchanges to electronically transmit medical records on behalf of people seeking disability benefits. The SSA exchange uses the Nationwide Health Information Network (NwHIN).  In 2011, SSA requested nearly 15 million medical records from 500,000 providers to make decisions on about three million disability claims. Exchanging records electronically is expected to reduce how long disability claim determinations take as well as reduce the cost to SSA and provider organizations for handling . . .