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CMS announces PHR pilot project in South Carolina

EHR Connection, May 26, 2008

CMS is expanding its efforts to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to use Internet-based resources to track their healthcare services and improve communication with their providers, according to a May 7 press release.

A CMS pilot project in South Carolina will enable Medicare beneficiaries to collect and access information about their health and healthcare from PHRs populated by their own claims data, according to the press release. A PHR is a record of health information that is under the control of the patient or consumer, unlike EHRS which providers own and control.

This PHR will allow individuals to obtain information about their own health status and conditions, according to the press release. It also will provide convenient links to Web sites with information on various health topics to help users better manage their own healthcare.

“By using a PHR, patients with the pilot will have easy access to personalized medical information that will enable them to be more involved with their health care services,” said Kerry Weems, CMS acting administrator. “Furthermore, the steps we are taking today will help CMS understand how to best educate beneficiaries on the use of a PHR so that we can encourage use of these tools in the future.”

CMS said that strict privacy and security safeguards are in place to protect beneficiary data. Beneficiaries will control who is able to access information and will decide whether and with whom they will share information.

Click here to read the CMS press release.

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