Noteboom The Law Firm

VA Using Standard Identifier For Health and Benefits

August 17, 2010 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has begun using a single standard identifier in all their health care systems; the Electronic Data Interchange Personal Identifier (EDPI). Veterans will now be assigned one number that follows them from the day they enlist to the day they die. Their EDPI will allow access to the veteran's medical records across the VA and the DoD and will cut down on unnecessary time waiting for health care and benefit information.  

The VA's identifier number will also be applied to all the veteran's beneficiaries. It will also help exchange data between the VA and the Department of Defense (DoD) in a joint project called the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record (VLER). The VLER will be used for all soldiers and veterans. 

The VA started using the EDPI 6 weeks ago. It has been called "critical" in the development of the VLER. Although this in itself will likely help to overcome many obstacles standing in the way of developing a lifetime of medical records, it is also only the first step.

The VA has begun using the EDPI in their internal information technology systems. The VA will then couple it with a number already in place in its health care system in order to identify patients. The Military Health System uses the EDPI to identify patients and beneficiaries. The EDPI is used as the main identification for every person in the DoD, and is only intended for transactions between machines; not to be known by the individual.

The way the system is structured, the numbers assigned to soldiers will never change and are completely open to cross-reference with other departments. Information seamlessly exchanged between DoD and VA systems will improve health care for everyone involved once it is completely implemented.