VA announces new Veterans Health Application Programming Interface

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently launched its first Health Application Programming Interface (API) that will power the next generation of Blue Button features by enabling Veterans to interact with their own personal health data within innovative mobile and web-based apps.

Introduced on Dec. 4, at the White House Executive Forum on Healthcare Data Interoperability, Health APIs will power the next generation of Blue Button features by enabling Veterans to interact with their own personal health data within innovative mobile and web-based apps.

Sponsored by the White House Office of American Innovation, the forum brought together senior health care leaders from both the public and private sectors.

Health APIs will also support new clinician-focused applications, and can also serve as a foundation for data sharing between health systems to support Veteran care.

“We are excited to announce this advancement in the way we deliver services,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie. “Healthcare data interoperability plays a key role in all four of VA’s top priorities, from implementing the MISSION Act and modernizing our electronic health record, to transforming our business systems and delivering better customer service. VA is proud to serve as a leader and example in this field.”

Consistent with VA’s Open API Pledge, the Health API conforms to the Argonaut Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR)API standards. VA believes that open FHIR-based APIs are an essential component in a modern interoperability strategy, and that government and industry must collaborate to expand available FHIR resources and its use.

VA is committed to leveraging APIs to accelerate creation of transformational digital tools to support Veterans as they engage with VA’s core health, benefits and memorial services. Since launching its Lighthouse API Management Platform in March, VA has delivered a developer portal, a Benefits Intake API and a Facilities API.

VA continues to provide Veteran patients easy digital access to their own health care data. Since the launch of our Blue Button product in 2010, more than 2 million Veterans have downloaded over 32 million personal health data files from the VA’s patient portal.

For more information on the Veterans Health API, please visit https://developer.va.gov