Sharing Health Data Update September 2026

We are now well past the 22 year mark in our quest for healthcare interoperability. Under an executive order from president G W Bush (April 2004), the ONC was established and Dr. David Brailer was dubbed “America’s first Health Information Czar.” The Meaningful Use program was then born out of the HITECH Act and Merit-Based Incentive Payment System out of the MACRA legislation. And then information sharing from the CURES Act. And then the release of Trusted Exchange Framework and the Common Agreement (TEFCA). And now the CMS Interoperability Framework. All trying to move our healthcare system to the digital age, better outcomes, controlling and reducing costs, and patient access to their health data. It has not been an easy road and the debate of the journey will never end.

ONC Increases Funding for TEFCA RCE in New Contract Year
The Sequoia Project, the leading non-profit focused on advancing healthcare interoperability, announced it will continue its role as the Recognized Coordinating Entity® (RCE®) to support the implementation of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement™ (TEFCA®). The non-profit was awarded the next option year with a more than 15% increase in funding under its existing contract to the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).

New TEFCA Governing Council Appointments
John Helvey, CEO of SacValley MedShare, and Laura McCrary, Ed.D., President and CEO of Konza, have been named to the newly announced TEFCA Governing Council. The council, established by The Sequoia Project, provides guidance on policies, dispute resolution, and the strategic direction of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), the federally endorsed framework for nationwide interoperability. The 19-member body includes representatives from health systems, health information networks, technology vendors, government agencies, and other key stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem.

Larra Petersen-Lukenda Named CyncHealth’s Next CEO
Following a national search, the CyncHealth Board of Directors selected Larra Petersen-Lukenda, Ph.D., M.A. as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO). After serving as Interim CEO since December 2025, Dr. Petersen-Lukenda will assume the permanent role beginning August 31 and continue advancing CyncHealth’s mission.

Compass Healthcare Collaborative Names Chris Evans as Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Directors of Compass Healthcare Collaborative has named Christopher T. Evans, MHA, FACHE, as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2026. Evans currently serves as Compass’s Chief Operating Officer and will succeed founding President and CEO Tom Evans, MD, who has led the organization for more than two decades.

Centauri Marks First Anniversary of CMS Health Technology Ecosystem with General Availability, Triple-Digit Growth
Centauri Health Solutions announced that MedAllies, a Centauri company, has achieved General Availability (GA) as a CMS Aligned Network, marking one year since joining the White House pledge to build the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Health Technology Ecosystem. GA confirms that MedAllies’ identity verification, consent management and data exchange protocols are performing reliably at national scale, not in pilot environments, but under sustained, real-world consumer demand.

Scan.com Raises $220M to Expand US Medical Imaging Network
Scan.com has raised $220 million in combined equity and debt financing as it expands its medical imaging platform across the United States. The financing includes a $90 million equity round led by Noteus Partners. Aviva, Concord Health Partners, YZR Capital and Oxford Capital also participated.

Kneu Health launches monitoring of Parkinson’s symptoms via Apple Watch
Kneu Health, a digital neurology platform for Parkinson’s disease and dementia, announced the launch of its new passive monitoring tool for Parkinson’s. Deployed via an Apple Watch, the tool enables 24/7 monitoring of tremor symptoms as well as tracking of dyskinesia, the involuntary movements that can occur as a side effect of Parkinson’s medication.

1upHealth Launches 1up Clinical Connect to Help Payers Strengthen HEDIS Scores, Star Ratings, and Financial Performance with Continuous Clinical Data
1upHealth, a health data interoperability company, announced it has launched 1up Clinical Connect, a solution that allows health plans to automatically acquire clinical data from provider EHRs and unify it with claims data into a single longitudinal member record. Longstanding 1upHealth customer Capital Health Plan is the first to implement the new solution, using it to close care gaps, sharpen risk adjustment accuracy, and improve outcomes.

The Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement (NRHI) and the Strategic Health Information Exchange Collaborative (SHIEC) announced a formal affiliation between the two organizations to form a new organization named Civitas Networks for Health. The organization serves as a platform for local nonprofit health collaboratives and health information exchanges to grow and thrive. Read their latest news. Follow them @civitas4health.

Introducing the First-Ever Civitas Networks for Health® Impact Report
They are proud to share the first-ever Civitas Networks for Health® Impact Report, highlighting the collective progress, growth, and real-world impact of our national networks.

Since their founding in 2021, Civitas has been built on a simple but powerful belief: local implementation, grounded in trusted relationships and strong data, drives national health improvement. In just a few years, that belief has grown into a network of more than 160 mission-driven organizations working across states and communities to strengthen health data exchange, collaboration, and decision-making.

State HIE News

Distance to Delivery in Virginia: New Dashboard Available.
Explore data how far and how long Virginians travel for childbirth, including differences by geography, rural, payer type, delivery type and maternal characteristics. Designed to support a better understanding of access to maternity services across the Commonwealth, the dashboard highlights disparities between urban and rural communities and offers a data-driven view of the challenges some families face when seeking obstetric care. By making these insights more accessible, VHI aims to inform discussions around maternal health, healthcare access, and service availability across Virginia.

VITL Partners with Outcome Healthcare to Strengthen Vermont’s Health Data Network
VITL, the independent nonprofit that operates Vermont’s statewide health information exchange (HIE), is taking that work further and announcing its migration to a new clinical data repository and provider portal platform powered by Outcome Healthcare. Outcome brings more than 60 years of combined health information exchange expertise, with focus on advancing interoperability and improving patient care. VITL and Outcome Healthcare plan to complete the migration during Spring 2027.

Contexture
Contexture is a nonprofit organization that provides strategic, technical and administrative support to communities committed to advancing health through information sharing. As the leading health information exchange for Arizona and Colorado, Contexture is the largest health information organization in the western region. Check out all their current openings.

VITL
Vermont Information Technology Leaders is seeking a Director of Client Services and Communications to join its leadership team and help advance its mission of improving health through secure data exchange across Vermont. This senior role will lead the organization’s client engagement strategy, oversee communications and external affairs, and guide a growing team focused on strengthening relationships with providers and stakeholders statewide. The position plays a critical role in shaping how VITL delivers value—from developing scalable service offerings and expanding provider participation to building a cohesive brand and communications platform. The Director will also serve as a key public-facing leader, representing VITL in Vermont and nationally while helping translate strategic priorities into operational impact. This is a unique opportunity for a leader with experience in healthcare, health IT, or client engagement to drive meaningful improvements in data sharing, collaboration, and health outcomes across the region.

CIVHC (Center for Improving Value in Health Care)
The Center for Improving Value in Health Care (CIVHC) is an independent non-profit that equips partners and communities in Colorado and across the nation with the resources, services and unbiased data needed to improve health and health care. As the designated administrator of Colorado’s All Payer Claims Database (CO APCD), CIVHC oversees the collection of health care claims from Colorado’s public and private health care insurers and uses that information to promote price transparency, inform policy, advance health equity, conduct research, and much more. Check out their Current Openings.

healthEconnect Alaska
Hiring: Healthcare Engagement Specialist – healthEconnect Alaska is seeking an experienced healthcare professional who thrives on building relationships, supporting others, and driving healthcare efficiency. If you have at least five years of professional healthcare experience, a strong understanding of healthcare workflows, and a passion for whole-person care, they want to hear from you. View more information about the position.

Civitas Annual Conference

When: September 22-24, 2026
Where: Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport, Crystal City VA
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Hashtag: #Civitas2026

Civitas’ Annual Conference brings together leaders from across the country to discuss interoperability, data-driven quality improvement, social drivers of health, public health, community-led governance, and health outcomes.

Civitas members serve as critical national infrastructure for health. Attendees come to build meaningful connections, strengthen partnerships, and leave with tangible strategies to advance their work.

ConV2X 2026

When: September 24-25, 2026
Where: The Foundry, Cambridge MA
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ConV2X is a high impact, in person global summit that brings together industry leaders in a curated, side-by-side engagement environment designed to accelerate collaboration, innovation, and real world problem solving. The summit focuses on healthcare transformation through AI infrastructure, decentralized systems, blockchain, interoperability, governance, and cybersecurity.

WISHIN Summit 2026

When: October 7, 2026
Where: Glacier Canyon Lodge, Wisconsin Dells
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Healthcare leaders and partners from across Wisconsin will explore how health information exchange (HIE) supports more coordinated, informed, and patient-centered care.

Keynote speaker Carole Gray Unis of the Wisconsin Statewide Health Information Network (WISHIN) will share a personal story that highlights the importance of care coordination and the impact of timely, complete patient information.

2026 WEDI National Conference

When: October 26-29, 2026
Where: Washington DC & Vitural
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The WEDI National Conference is the premier annual gathering of health care leaders, policymakers, innovators, and technology experts committed to advancing a more connected, efficient, and patient-centered health care system.

Each year, the conference brings together stakeholders from across the health care ecosystem, including payers, providers, health IT developers, government agencies, standards development organizations, clearinghouses, and industry partners, to share best practices, lessons learned, emerging trends, and real-world implementation experiences. Through thought-provoking keynotes, interactive panel discussions, and practical case studies, attendees gain actionable insights into the policies, standards, and technologies shaping the future of health care.

2026 eHealth Exchange Annual Meeting

When: Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Where: Lost Pines Resort & Spa, Austin TX
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This year’s theme, Recharging the Connection, reflects the resilience required to advance nationwide interoperability and the importance of sustaining the people who power it. Healthcare transformation demands focus, endurance, and collaboration, and this gathering is designed to create space for both strategic dialogue and renewal.

The Sequoia Project Annual Meeting

When: October 28-29, 2026
Where: Lost Pines Resort & Spa, Austin TX
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The Sequoia Project & Carequality 2026 Annual Meeting is the premier gathering of healthcare leaders, policy experts, and technology innovators dedicated to advancing nationwide health data exchange. This two-day event will bring together key stakeholders committed to shaping the future of trusted exchange.

ONC Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE)

The Recognized Coordinating Entity (RCE) – The Sequoia Project (@sequoiaproject)is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the Common Agreement component of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA). The Common Agreement is the baseline technical and legal requirements for health information networks to share electronic health information and is part of the 21st Century Cures Act (Cures Act).

In addition they will collaborate with ONC to designate and monitor Qualified Health Information Networks (QHIN), modify and update an accompanying QHIN Technical Framework, engage with stakeholders through virtual public listening sessions, adjudicate noncompliance with the Common Agreement, and propose sustainability strategies to support TEFCA beyond the cooperative agreement’s period of performance.

On August 28, 2023, the ONC awarded The Sequoia Project 5-Year TEFCA RCE Contract to continue their services.

RCE Resource Library – which includes a guide to the Common Agreement, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical documents, and other resources that make up TEFCA’s rules of the road. Start your journey to next generation interoperability here. ​

The Sequoia Project and Carequality Annual Meeting 2025
See keynote from CMS DOGE & ASTP Keynote ( Welcome & CMS DOGE & ASTP Keynote | Sequoia & CEQ Annual Meeting 2025 ), trusted exchange (Putting the Trust in Trusted Exchange | Sequoia & CEQ Annual Meeting 2025), CMS-Aligned Networks (CMS Aligned Networks | Sequoia & Carequality 2025 Annual Meeting),and more sessions, speakers and topics.

To review all of the recordings post event and see what everyone is talking about:

• Videos here and scroll down: The Sequoia Project

According to research by Grand View Research, the global healthcare interoperability solutions market size was estimated at USD 3.42 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.15% from 2024 to 2030. An increase in the adoption of interoperability solutions by healthcare authorities, a rise in investments to enhance healthcare facilities, favorable government initiatives to improve patient care, high government funding, and a focus on patient-centric care are some major factors propelling the market growth. In February 2023, the federal government provided USD 505 million to federal data partners and Canada Health Infoway to advance digital health tools and an interoperability roadmap. Thus, the rising investments and funding from government bodies are anticipated to drive the industry growth.