The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is spearheading an initiative in collaboration with major technology firms to create a ‘patient-centric’ healthcare ecosystem.
The technology companies involved in the initiative include Amazon, Apple, Google, and OpenAI.
Announced during the ‘Make Health Tech Great Again’ event, this initiative aims to enhance the healthcare experience for American citizens by establishing a next-generation digital health framework that improves patient outcomes and reduces administrative burdens on healthcare providers.
Central to this initiative is the promotion of the CMS Interoperability Framework, which facilitates seamless information sharing between patients and healthcare providers.
CMS has introduced voluntary criteria for a trusted data exchange system that will be accessible across various health information networks, electronic health records (EHR), and technology platforms.
More than 60 companies have committed to this collaborative effort, with 21 networks pledging to adhere to the CMS Interoperability Framework criteria to become CMS Aligned Networks.
Additionally, 11 health systems and providers are supporting patient engagement, while seven EHRs are enhancing data exchange capabilities.
The initiative also emphasises the development of personalised tools that empower patients to make informed health decisions.
In addition, 30 companies have committed to leveraging technology to promote tangible health outcomes, utilising secure identity credentials to access medical records from CMS Aligned Networks.
These digital tools will assist beneficiaries in managing conditions such as diabetes and obesity, employing conversational AI for symptom checking and appointment scheduling, and replacing paper intake forms with digital check-in methods.
This initiative builds on a request for information (RFI) issued by CMS in May 2025, which sought stakeholder input on modernising the digital health ecosystem.
CMS administrator Dr Mehmet Oz said: “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 US healthcare system for the benefit of patients and providers.”
CMS is also enhancing its digital presence by adding an app library to Medicare.gov, showcasing trusted digital health tools focused on prevention and chronic disease management.
Updates to existing tools, such as the enhanced plan finder, will improve the beneficiary experience by allowing users to select plans that include their preferred providers while ensuring compliance with privacy regulations.
Additionally, CMS is developing a national provider directory based on Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to improve data quality and facilitate access to provider networks.
The agency is working on integrating modern digital identity solutions into Medicare.gov and reducing the time it takes for claims data to become accessible through the Blue Button service.
