CMS’ Health Technology Ecosystem: Legal and Policy Implications for Health Care Attorneys

• April 17, 2026

CMS’ Health Technology Ecosystem Initiative (HTE) is an ambitious effort announced by the White House and CMS to modernize the nation’s digital health infrastructure and expand data sharing beyond traditional clinical settings into the broader health and wellness ecosystem. At the center of this initiative is the CMS Interoperability Framework, which builds on prior federal interoperability efforts and emphasizes standardized data exchange, defined participant roles, secure and privacy-respecting data sharing, and patient-centric access. Ann Tiffany, Compliance Consultant, Clearwater, speaks with Melissa Soliz, Partner, Coppersmith Brockelman, and David Lee, Principal, Leavitt Partners, about what the HTE means for privacy, data governance, stakeholder obligations, enforcement, and liability risk. An AHLA Bulletin was published that explores this topic. From AHLA’s Health Information and Technology Practice Group. Sponsored by Clearwater.