TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement
The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) under the 21st Century Cures Act, establishes a universal governance framework for nationwide health information exchange. TEFCA enables interoperable exchange of electronic health information among Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs). Version 2.0 effective 2024 with operational exchanges beginning.
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Framework Domains (5)
Exchange Purposes and Use
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CA-5 | Treatment Exchange Purpose |
| CA-6 | Individual Access Services |
| CA-7 | Payment and Health Care Operations |
| CA-8 | Public Health Exchange |
| CA-9 | Government Benefits Determination |
Privacy and Security Requirements
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CA-10 | Privacy Protections |
| CA-11 | Security Safeguards |
| CA-12 | Breach Notification |
| CA-13 | Minimum Necessary Standard |
QHIN Designation and Obligations
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| CA-1 | QHIN Application and Designation |
| CA-2 | QHIN Onboarding Requirements |
| CA-3 | Participant Flow-Down Obligations |
| CA-4 | QHIN Technical Compliance |
Technical Framework (QTF)
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| QTF-1 | Patient Identity Resolution |
| QTF-2 | Message Exchange Standards |
| QTF-3 | Authentication and Authorisation |
| QTF-4 | Performance and Availability |
| QTF-5 | Audit and Logging |
Trusted Exchange Framework Principles
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| TEF-1 | Standardisation |
| TEF-2 | Openness and Transparency |
| TEF-3 | Cooperation and Non-Discrimination |
| TEF-4 | Privacy, Security, and Safety |
| TEF-5 | Access and Equity |
Maps to 619 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement?
TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement is a compliance framework from United States (ONC) with 5 domains and 23 controls. The Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA), developed by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC) under the 21st Century Cures Act, establishes a universal governance framework for nationwide health information exchange. TEFCA enables interoperable exchange of electronic health information among Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs). Version 2.0 effective 2024 with operational exchanges beginning. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement have?
TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement has 23 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Exchange Purposes and Use (5 controls), Technical Framework (QTF) (5 controls), Trusted Exchange Framework Principles (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement map to?
TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement maps to 619 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are TISAX — Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (39% coverage), EU Maritime Single Window Environment Regulation (EU 2019/1239) and EMSA Cybersecurity (35% coverage), EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD6 / Directive 2018/1673) (35% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement compliance?
Start your TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about TEFCA — Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 23 controls and track your progress.
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