April 24, 2023: MGMA and coalition partners urge Congress to assign funds to ONC for improving and supporting patient matching efforts

April 24, 2023

Dear Senate and House Appropriations Leadership,

As you prepare the FY2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we respectfully request that you include report language that directs the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) within the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to spend $7 million of the funds appropriated on efforts to improve patient matching.

Specifically, we request that the following report language be included:

The Committee is concerned there is no consistent and accurate way to link patients to their health information as they seek care across the continuum. Health information must be accurate, timely, and robust to inform clinical care decisions for every patient. ONC should work with industry to develop such matching standards that prioritize interoperability, patient safety, and patient privacy. The Committee directs $7 million of the funds appropriated to ONC to be used for this purpose in collaboration with industry.



View the full letter to Senate Committee on Appropriations leadership
View the full letter to House Committee on Appropriations leadership