Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Partners and Providers
Question | Answer |
Who is VHIE? |
The Veterans Health Information Exchange (VHIE) Program Office manages the tools VA clinicians use to seamlessly and securely access the information they need to coordinate your care. Through a secure gateway, called the Joint Health Information Exchange (joint HIE), VA, DoD, and other participating external providers can safely and securely send and receive VA patient health information electronically. |
What is eHIE? |
Electronic health information exchange (eHIE) connects health care providers, care facilities, pharmacies, and labs to ensure care teams have the most up-to-date and accurate information in order to treat patients. This secure exchange system eliminates the need to send paper medical records by mail or carry your paper records to appointments with federal health care providers and/or participating non-VA partners and providers. |
What changed? |
The VA MISSION Act of 2018 removed certain restrictions on electronic health information sharing, enabling VA to seamlessly and securely share VA patient health information with participating non-VA partners and providers who are a part of a VA patient's care team. The change took effect April 17, 2020. Previously, patients had to complete a form to opt in or elect to share their electronic health information via VA Exchange. VA patients do not need to take any action for VA to start coordinating their care to receive electronic health information. VA patients (active duty excluded) may opt out of electronic health information sharing. |
What kinds of health information can be shared with VA electronic health information exchange? |
Currently, VA and participating non-VA partners and providers can electronically share a variety of electronic health information including:
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I am a health care partner or provider - how can I partner with VA to ensure better care coordination for VA patients? |
Visit the Why Partner with VHIE page to learn more about how you or your organization can become a VHIE participating non-VA partner and/or provider to safely and securely share VA patient health information. |
Still have questions? Call the toll-free VHIE Information Line at 1-877-771-8537 Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-9 p.m. CST or feel free to email us at VHAVHIEPublicAffairs@va.gov. PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII) OR PROTECTED HEALTH INFORMATION (PHI), INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FORMS, PATIENT SSN (FULL OR LAST FOUR), AND/OR DATE OF BIRTH. This is an unsecured mailbox.