In taking the pledge, we will leverage our interoperability platform and ‘kill the clipboard’ digital tools to help modernize nationwide health data exchange.
The healthcare technology industry stands at a pivotal moment. The new Health Tech Ecosystem initiative from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) represents a significant shift toward nationwide interoperability powered by a “voluntary, standards-based alliance rather than a regulatory mandate.” As Primary.Health’s Director of Integrations and Digital Partnerships, I’m excited to share that we’ve taken the first steps toward committing to this collaborative blueprint for modern health data exchange.
Why This Initiative Matters
This focus on CMS-aligned networks, digital identity, real-time data access, and user-friendly tools sets the stage for a much-needed modernization of how providers, patients, and labs exchange, access, and act upon health data. The CMS Interoperability Framework seeks early adopters across categories that include networks, EHRs, providers, payers, and digital health products. The initiative will showcase its objectives in the first quarter of 2026.
At Primary.Health, we’ve been delivering on many of these priorities in public and private partnerships for years. Our software platform already provides:
- Real-time lab-to-lab and provider-to-lab interoperability through our Connect engine
- OCR-based requisition scanning for seamless data capture
- CSV/XLSX bulk upload capabilities for high-volume workflows
- “Kill the clipboard” digital patient registration and consent tools that eliminate manual forms
Our Pledge to CMS
We’ve formally expressed interest in becoming early adopters under two Health Tech categories: EHR & Providers and Patient-Facing Apps. Our LabConnect platform, Primary.Health EHR, and underlying Connect interoperability engine align perfectly with CMS objectives in these categories.
For example, we power LIMS-agnostic bidirectional order/result exchange, including structured and unstructured clinical data access for CMS-Aligned Networks. And our digital patient registration and consent tools across all solutions support FHIR-based intake workflows. This meets the initiative’s goals of “killing the clipboard” and modernizing patient interactions.
The Strategic Impact
Interoperability isn’t just a technical milestone—it’s a strategic enabler. When systems communicate effectively, we reduce friction, increase accuracy, and accelerate response times across the care continuum. This creates better health outcomes for all. Our deployment experience in public and private health labs positions us to contribute meaningful insights for other early adopters.
Looking Ahead
There’s substantial work ahead; however, this framework provides a real opportunity to build with clarity, consistency, and patient impact at the center. As a company whose progress is defined by partnerships, we’re eager to collaborate on interoperability pilots and contribute to the Q1 2026 rollout timeline.
The voluntary nature of this initiative, combined with its focus on standards-based collaboration, create the right environment for sustainable, industry-wide change. Primary.Health is proud to be part of this movement toward a truly connected healthcare ecosystem, and we encourage our health tech peers to take the pledge as well. Working together, we can deliver the modern, connected healthcare experience Americans expect and deserve. In the process, we’ll empower people and improve care. Check this space for updates on our contributions.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in adapting our digital health solutions to your public health entity, community, or laboratory, please schedule a chat with me. I’d love to showcase Primary.Health software and solutions that support our mission of halting the spread of diseases and lessening the severity of all illnesses.
