PHR Pilots

CMS Personal Health Record Pilots in South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah

CMS' recent Personal Health Record (PHR) pilots both concluded in 2011.

The My Personal Health Record, South Carolina (MyPHRSC) pilot was a secure, web-based electronic PHR available to all South Carolina residents with fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare. Launched in 2008, the goal of the pilot was to provide FFS beneficiaries with free access to an electronic PHR. The PHR is populated with two years of Medicare claims data for beneficiaries who elect to participate. Beneficiaries were able to personalize their PHR by adding health-related information such as medication, allergies, non-Medicare health care services, provider contact information, family history and notes. MyPHRSC was available via the internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through the end of the pilot -- September 2011.

To view the evaluation of MyPHRSC, go to the link in the "Related Links Outside CMS" section below.

The Medicare PHR Choice pilot was open to Utah and Arizona residents with fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare. Unlike the pilot in South Carolina, beneficiaries in Medicare PHR Choice were able to select a PHR from four participating PHR vendors (Google Health, HealthTrio, myMediConnect, and NoMoreClipboard). The main difference between the two pilots was that beneficiaries in Utah and Arizona were able to evaluate and choose from a variety of PHR tools.  Both pilots gave the beneficiaries access to 24 months of claims data and the ability to personalize the content of the PHR by adding their own health-related information and notes.  The Medicare PHR Choice pilot launched in 2009 and concluded June 2011.

For more information, go to the "Related Links Inside CMS" section below.

Personal Health Record pilot with Medicare Advantage and Part D Plans

In June 2007, CMS launched a pilot project to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of Personal Health Records offered by their Medicare Advantage or Part D Drug Plans.  The pilot ended in December 2008, but the health plans continue to offer the PHRs to their Medicare members.  The plans are:  BCBS of Arkansas, BCBS of Louisiana, HIP USA, Humana, Kaiser Permanente, and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).  Medicare beneficiaries who are members of those plans may link to those PHRs directly from the health plan's website or through the Medicare website, at www. Mymedicare.gov.  

Feasibility Test of Using Claims Data to populate Personal Health Records

In July 2006, CMS awarded contracts to two organizations to test the feasibility of using Medicare claims data to populate Personal Health Records.  One of the goals of the test was to determine if Medicare claims history information could be successfully imported into an Internet-based tool.    

The contracts were awarded to ViPS, using the WebMD tool, and Capstone Government Solutions, using the SharedHealth tool.  

The pilot was a success, proving that it was feasible to use Medicare claims data to populate PHRs.  Those contracts formed the foundation for the pilots that began in 2007 and 2008.  For more information, see the link in the "Related Links Inside CMS" section below.

CMS Request for Information (RFI) regarding Personal Health Records (PHR)  

In 2005, CMS requested information from the industry, regarding the role for CMS with Personal Health Records. CMS received over fifty responses and prepared a report summarizing the feedback.  The information has been used to assist us in developing our strategy for fostering the development of PHRs for Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. To view this summary, see the link in the Downloads section below.