VA and Department of War join TEFCA
Published November 8, 2026 · Coverage November 1–7, 2026, Pacific · Lower priority
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) announced on November 5, 2026 that the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of War have joined the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), adding to the Indian Health Service, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Social Security Administration among federal participants. ONC reports nearly 25,000 organizations live on TEFCA with nearly 110,000 unique connections.
Background
ONC describes TEFCA as a network helping patients, healthcare providers, public health and increasingly federal agencies securely share electronic health information. Federal agencies have been joining TEFCA since its launch in December 2023, and the release says more than 2 billion health records have been exchanged through it since then.
Who this affects
Hospitals exchanging records with VA and military treatment facilities through TEFCA-participating networks.
Why it matters
Inference: health information management and interoperability teams may see VA and Department of War record queries and responses through their TEFCA participant; no new duty.
Recommended action
- Ask the organization's Qualified Health Information Network or TEFCA participant whether VA and Department of War exchange is enabled
Scope and timing
- Authority status
- Announced
- Responsible owner
- Health information management; Interoperability / IT
- Publication date
- 2026-11-05
Not established
Page shows 'Last Updated: November 9, 2026'; what changed after publication not established.
Sources
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