HHS is Taking Bold Steps—and CLEAR is Proud to Support Their Vision

You can’t build a better healthcare system without getting identity right, which is why CMS/ASTP recent Request for Information (RFI) is such a pivotal moment: it recognizes that identity is foundational to everything from care access to fraud prevention. At CLEAR , we’ve long advocated for a future where identity is seamless, secure, and reusable, and it’s energizing to see that vision gaining national traction.  

Why CMS’s RFI Matters

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued an RFI to support the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in exploring how technology can better serve Medicare beneficiaries with a modern, patient-centered health system. Three key priorities emerged from the RFI:

1. Promoting Digital Health Tools – Empower patients with better tools to manage their health and navigate care.
2. Improving Data Interoperability – Ensure patient information flows securely across systems and providers.
3. Reducing Administrative Burden – Streamline processes to prioritize care over paperwork.

Beneath all three lies a foundational enabler: identity.

Raising the Bar for Digital Identity in Healthcare

At the recent CMS RFI listening session in Washington DC, leaders from CMS and HHS shared their intent to establish a federated identity verification solution. Their goal is for Medicare beneficiaries to establish a reusable identity that enables seamless access across providers, payers, and other healthcare services. 

This kind of unified identity approach is something I’ve long advocated for, and what’s kept me at CLEAR. It’s encouraging to see this vision reflected in CMS’s evolving priorities, and I’m eager to continue supporting this shift across the healthcare ecosystem.

A future built on federated identity eliminates the friction and confusion of juggling portals, passwords, and redundant logins, making healthcare more accessible and intuitive, especially for seniors.

And to ensure both accessibility and security, Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) should be the baseline for digital identity in healthcare. IAL2 meets robust federal standards and offers a vital safeguard against fraud while giving patients trusted access to their own health information.  

A Shared Vision for Federated Identity

At CLEAR, we’re already delivering what CMS envisions. Our identity platform enables patients, providers, and administrators to enroll once and verify anywhere CLEAR exists with the snap of a selfie. CLEAR’s approach to healthcare has always been anchored in three principles each  aligned with CMS’s vision for a modern digital health ecosystem:

1. Establishing Trusted, Reusable Identity – We’ve focused on enabling individuals to create a secure, reusable digital identity that works across providers, payers, and healthcare services, reducing complexity for patients and staff.
2. Meeting Rigorous Security Standards – From day one, we’ve emphasized Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) compliance, ensuring that identity verification in healthcare meets federal standards for both safety and accessibility. CLEAR users are always in control of their information, and CLEAR will never sell their data.
3. Designing for Simplicity and Access – Our solution is built to reduce friction—minimizing password fatigue, cutting down administrative burden, and creating a more intuitive experience for Medicare beneficiaries and the broader patient population.

Comment from Aneesh Chopra (Former US CTO & Current Chief Strategy Officer, Arcadia )

It has been 14 years since the launch of the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (“NSTIC”) and I’m thrilled to see the resulting standards from that public/private partnership embraced by Secretary Kennedy and his HHS team for a simpler and more secure health data sharing system! We are long overdue to deliver on the promise of enabling all of us the ability to access - and use - our health records via applications we trust to help make better decisions at every step of our care journeys. 

I look forward to a growing marketplace of “on-ramps” to this more secure health internet that compete to help me verify my identity, help me aggregate my records, find the right care and streamline the registration process by pre-filling my forms so I can spend less time staring at a clipboard and more with my clinician. 

Partnering for Progress

As CMS explores forward-thinking solutions like a national provider directory, digital insurance cards, and federated identity systems, the opportunity for public-private collaboration has never been stronger. Together, we have the opportunity to build a healthcare ecosystem where identity is secure, access is simple, and individuals are empowered to take charge of their health with confidence. CLEAR remains committed to this mission and applauds CMS for taking bold steps forward in the modernization of healthcare technology.