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On August 2, 2010 President Barack Obama announced that Department of Veterans Affairs beneficiaries would be able to download their personal health information from their online accounts due to the new Blue Button offering. The VA developed their Blue Button offering as part of a robust public and private sector collaboration with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Department of Defense and the Markle Foundation's Consumer Engagement Workgroup. The VA's Blue Button became operational at the end of August and the initiative was made nationally available in October 2010.

Get Blue ButtonSince then, Medicare and TRICARE have begun offering their beneficiaries a Blue Button to download their medical records from secure websites. Now several other organizations are committing to offer similar capabilities for their patients and beneficiaries. This support encompasses both the public and private sector, with RelayHealth, McKesson and Vermont Blueprint for Health being among the latest organizations to commit to the offering a Blue Button download capability.

With the click of a button, this technology is transforming health care for hundreds of thousands of individuals across the country. Unfortunately, these individuals are in the minority. Despite the overwhelming public demand for easy, online access to one's medical records, most health care systems do not offer a download capability to their patients or beneficiaries.

The time to do so is now.

The Blue Button is generating a groundswell of support from individuals, providers, insurers, and major health care organizations, as they realize how this simple capability can lead to improved care delivered at lowered costs. Help keep the momentum going – make the commitment to offering a Blue Button download capability for your patients or consumers.