ONC Standards and Your TRICARE Medical Records

## Quick answer The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is the federal agency that sets the rules for how your medical records are stored and shared electronically. For TRICARE beneficiaries, the ONC’s standards ensure that your health data can move securely between military hospitals (MTFs) and civilian providers like Humana Military or TriWest.

In detail

Established in 2004 and located within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the ONC is the "architect" of the nation’s health IT infrastructure. While TRICARE is managed by the Defense Health Agency (DHA), the DHA follows ONC standards to ensure the MHS GENESIS electronic health record (EHR) system is compatible with civilian healthcare systems.

### Core Functions of the ONC * **Standards and Certification:** The ONC creates the "Certified Health IT" seal of approval. If your civilian doctor uses an ONC-certified system, it is guaranteed to protect your privacy while allowing data sharing. * **Interoperability:** This is the ability of different systems (like the VA, the DOD, and a local private clinic) to "talk" to each other. * **Information Blocking Rules:** The ONC enforces rules that prevent healthcare providers or IT companies from unfairly interfering with the access, exchange, or use of electronic health information (EHI).

### How ONC Affects TRICARE Operations As of 2026, the transition to the **T-5 Contract**—with **Humana Military** in the East and **TriWest Healthcare Alliance** in the West—relies heavily on ONC standards to manage the referral process. When you see a specialist in town, ONC-certified software ensures that the specialist's notes get back to your Primary Care Manager (PCM) at a military installation.

### The "21st Century Cures Act" & TRICARE Under ONC regulations stemming from the Cures Act, TRICARE beneficiaries now have greater "right of access" to their digital records. In 2026, this means you can often link your TRICARE health data to third-party smartphone apps (like Apple Health or specialized diabetes trackers) as long as those apps meet ONC security protocols.

## Who this applies to * **Active Duty Service Members (ADSMs):** Ensures their medical readiness data moves seamlessly when they PCS (Permanent Change of Station). * **Retirees and Families:** Allows for the coordination of care between the Military Treatment Facility (MTF) and civilian "Select" or "Prime" network providers. * **Providers:** Any civilian doctor in the Humana Military or TriWest networks must use ONC-certified EHR technology to receive maximum reimbursement and meet federal requirements.

Common scenarios

### 1. The PCS Move (Data Portability) Sgt. Miller moves from Fort Liberty (East Region) to Camp Pendleton (West Region) in 2026. Because both regions and the DHA use ONC-standardized data formats, his medical history, immunization records, and active prescriptions at Express Scripts are immediately visible to his new Dr. at TriWest without him needing to carry a physical paper file.

### 2. Avoiding Duplicate Testing Sarah, a TRICARE Select beneficiary, has an MRI at a civilian imaging center. Because the center uses ONC-certified software, the digital image is shared with her specialist at a military hospital. This saves Sarah the **$30–$40 copay (2026 rates)** she might have otherwise spent if she had to repeat the scan because the military doctor couldn't "open" a non-standard file.

## Related terms * **MHS GENESIS:** The Department of Defense’s standardized electronic health record system. * **Interoperability:** The ability of different health information systems to work together and move data across organizational boundaries. * **Information Blocking:** A practice by a provider or IT developer that is likely to interfere with the access or exchange of electronic health information. * **EHR (Electronic Health Record):** A digital version of a patient’s paper chart, available instantly and securely to authorized users. * **Health Information Exchange (HIE):** The actual transmission of healthcare-related data among facilities and government agencies.

## Sources * **HealthIT.gov (Official ONC Site):** https://www.healthit.gov * **TRICARE.mil - Electronic Health Record:** https://www.tricare.mil/mhsgenesis * **Defense Health Agency (DHA) - Health IT Directorate:** https://health.mil/About-MHS/OATSD/Health-IT

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