February 17, 2026 – For immediate release..
SYNCRONYS was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Data Networks category within the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem.
Discussions throughout the 2026 Annual Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) Meeting this past week highlighted the momentum around TEFCA implementation and its challenges, while reinforcing the critical role non-profit state-level health information exchanges play in supporting a trusted nationwide data exchange, whether TEFCA or the newer CMS Interoperability Framework. SYNCRONYS is a not-for-profit organization with health information exchange at its core, a multi stakeholder governance, and through its mission and function SYNCRONYS seeks to meet the comprehensive health data security, disclosure and analytic needs of New Mexico, including national interoperability.
SYNCRONYS, a functioning health data utility (HDU) and the state of New Mexico’s designated health information exchange (HIE), is not currently participating in TEFCA due to the barriers of duplication of data, trust, loss of data governance and secondary use, and limited recourse when misuse occurs.
On February 11, 2026, SYNCRONYS was approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Data Networks category within the CMS Health Tech Ecosystem. The designation of CMS Data Network demonstrates SYNCRONYS’ commitment to support the adoption of secure, standards-based infrastructure and information exchange at both the local and national level. As the local trusted New Mexico governance model, SYNCRONYS ensures that the data-sharing policies reflect state statutes, community values and clinical realities to support state initiatives of Primary Care Payment Reform (PCPR), New Mexico Medical Assistance Division (NM Medicaid) goals and strategic priorities, the NM Health Care Authority Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC) and the NM Department of Health (NMDOH) Data Modernization Initiative (DMI). SYNCRONYS serves as a trusted link between NM health care providers and facilities participating in CMS programs such as the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model, the Rural Health Transformation Program, the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) model and CDC Data Modernization. The infrastructure and technology platform provided by SYNCRONYS, as a CMS Data Network, offers an on ramp for NM patients, providers, payers and community-based organization to national CMS programs.
CMS’ Health Ecosystem is a bold new vision build on collaboration, not just compliance. CMS is calling on the healthcare industry-data networks, electronic health record systems, health app developers, providers, and innovators to voluntarily align around a shared framework for data and access that empowers people, improves care and accelerates progress. Nothing in the new ecosystem is intended to contravene, supersede, or preempt federal or state healthcare or privacy laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability of 1996 Privacy, Security and Breath Notification Rules (HIPAA Rules), and the Privacy Act of 1974.
CMS Data Networks must:
• Implement CMS Interoperability Framework criteria, including clinical and claims data as appropriate.
• Respond to patient, provider, and when appropriate, payer requests following the CMS Interoperability Framework.
SYNCRONYS is a New Mexico not for profit organization which operates and maintains the infrastructure of the state designated Health Information Exchange. In addition to securely exchanging digital health data to create a longitudinal clinical data record for individual patients, SYNCRONYS has evolved into a foundational statewide health data network that combines clinical health data, behavioral health data, public health data, and Medicaid claims for better population health, quality improvement, and research, going beyond simple data exchange to create actionable insights for healthcare providers, state agencies, and public policy makers. This infrastructure provides essential, secure data flow for public good, and essential data services for a holistic view of population and individual health.