VA, DOW Join TEFCA to Expand Nationwide Health Data Exchange

The departments of Veterans Affairs and War joined the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) Thursday, becoming the latest federal agencies to participate in the nationwide health information exchange network.

VA and DOW join the Indian Health Service, Consumer Product Safety Commission and Social Security Administration in participating in TEFCA, expanding access to health information across federal agencies.

“Many of America’s veterans and warfighters receive care in multiple locations, making it critical for their providers to have access to secure, timely health information,” Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and National Coordinator for Health IT Thomas Keane said in a statement. “TEFCA will help ensure their providers can get up-to-date information no matter where they receive care.”

Launched in December 2023, TEFCA supports 25,000 organizations across its network, representing approximately 110,000 connections to clinicians, hospitals, clinics, post-acute and long-term care facilities and public health authorities.

TEFCA has seen significant growth as more organizations exchange health information across the network. In 2026, it processed more than 1.7 billion exchanges, up from 10 million transactions before 2025. The network’s expansion comes as agencies increasingly explore AI-powered tools to improve information sharing and interoperability.

“We are very excited about the growth that we have seen on TEFCA over the past year. That is no easy feat,” said Maggie Gaddis, director of interoperability division at HHS’s Office of the National Coordinator for health IT, at an October event. “We like to say that it is a byproduct of innovation spreading through a network of networks. And so one of the things that we pride ourselves on in TEFCA is that it is one set of network participation policies.”

New Additions Expand the Network

VA’s participation in TEFCA comes as the department continues expanding its modernized electronic health record (EHR) system, creating new opportunities to improve health information sharing for veterans receiving care across multiple facilities.

Following the resumption of its rollout this year, VA has accelerated deployment of its Electronic Health Record Modernization program at selected health care facilities across the country. The department plans to deploy the system at another 26 medical centers in 2027.

In late October, VA deployed the EHR system at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center in Cleveland and the Alaska VA Healthcare System in Anchorage. The system also went live at 16 affiliated clinics across Ohio and Alaska.

“This is how we’re putting veterans first, and next year, we’ll bring these benefits to even more communities. Next year, 26 more hospitals will get the system, and our goal is to have it in every VA facility by 2031,” VA Deputy Secretary Paul Lawrence said in a LinkedIn post.