Epic Systems Integrates with SSA via TEFCA to Expedite Disability Approvals
Epic Systems has become the first healthcare provider to share medical records with the Social Security Administration (SSA) through the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), a federally sponsored interoperability network. This integration is expected to significantly reduce the time required for disability claim approvals, potentially by up to 50%. The initial cohort of Epic health systems participating in this integration includes AltaMed in California, Citizen Potawatomi Nation Health Services in Oklahoma, Overlake Hospital Medical Center in Washington, Saint Francis Health System in Oklahoma, and Valleywise Health in Arizona. This development marks a significant milestone in healthcare data exchange, which has traditionally relied on various networks without a universal federal standard.