2018-01-16

US Regulatory Agency Rules on Use of Clinical Text Messaging

​The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in the United States may have brought some clarity to whether text messaging can be used to communicate clinical information supporting health care. CMS has confirmed that in order to be compliant with conditions for reimbursement coverage, providers must use messaging systems that are secure, encrypted and maintained for privacy and confidentiality protections. Messaging integral to a Clinical Information System would comply. Separate non-integrated systems must meet discrete security standards. This reinforces our commitment to enable unified and integrated secure clinical messaging as an integral part of the Connect Care ecosystem.