Kill the Clipboard
CMS is leading a national initiative to eliminate paper intake forms in healthcare. By July 4, 2026, patients will share their complete medical history digitally at check-in.
What is "Kill the Clipboard"?
Announced by CMS in July 2025, "Kill the Clipboard" is a transformative initiative to modernize patient check-in across America. The goal is to eliminate the repetitive paper forms patients fill out at every healthcare visit.
Instead of writing the same information over and over, patients will be able to share their complete, verified medical history with a simple QR code scan. This means better care, less waiting, and fewer errors.
250M+
Americans affected
~20 min
Form time saved per visit
July 2026
Target launch date
FHIR R4
Standard data format
The Problem & The Solution
Today's Problem
- ✕Patients fill out the same forms at every single visit
- ✕Medical history scattered across 30+ patient portals
- ✕No way to verify patient-reported information
- ✕Staff spend hours on manual data entry and corrections
- ✕Incomplete records lead to duplicate tests and missed diagnoses
- ✕Paper forms create privacy and security risks
- ✕Handwriting is often illegible, causing errors
The CMS Vision
- One QR code scan shares complete medical history
- Universal access via SMART Health Links standard
- Verified, FHIR-formatted records from the source
- Zero manual data entry for front desk staff
- Complete records enable better clinical decisions
- Digital sharing with patient-controlled consent
- Structured data integrates directly with EHRs
CMS Timeline
The initiative is moving quickly. Healthcare providers need to be ready to receive and process digital health records by mid-2026.
July 2025
Initiative Announced
CMS unveils Kill the Clipboard
Nov 13, 2025
First In-Person Event
Industry collaboration kickoff
Feb 1, 2026
MVP Preview
Early demonstrations begin
March 2026
Final Demos
Solution validation period
July 4, 2026
National Launch
Full rollout begins
Technical Requirements
The CMS initiative relies on established healthcare interoperability standards to ensure seamless data exchange across the entire healthcare ecosystem.
SMART Health Links
Patients share records via scannable QR codes that contain encrypted links to their health data. No apps required for providers.
FHIR R4 Format
All data exchanged in HL7 FHIR R4 format, the universal standard for healthcare interoperability.
Patient Consent
Granular consent controls let patients choose exactly what to share, with whom, and for how long.
TEFCA Network
Built on the Trusted Exchange Framework enables queries to any connected provider nationwide.
Who Benefits?
Patients
- No more repetitive paperwork
- Complete records in one place
- Control over who sees what
- Faster, more accurate care
- Works at any provider
Healthcare Providers
- Complete patient history on day one
- Reduced administrative burden
- Fewer data entry errors
- Better clinical decisions
- Improved patient satisfaction
Healthcare System
- Reduced duplicate testing
- Better care coordination
- Lower administrative costs
- Improved population health
- True interoperability
Ready for Kill the Clipboard Today
Login.Health is built from the ground up to meet CMS requirements. Our platform enables providers to receive and process digital health records right now.
TEFCA Connected
Query patient records from any TEFCA-connected provider nationwide through our IAS Gateway.
SMART Health Links
Full SHL support for receiving patient-shared records via QR code at check-in.
FHIR Native
All records stored and exchanged in FHIR R4 format for seamless integration.
Zero-Knowledge Security
Patient data encrypted end-to-end. We never see unencrypted health records.
Patient Wallet
Give patients a secure app to aggregate and share their complete health history.
Instant Integration
Connect via API, kiosk, or portal. Works with your existing workflows.
Don't Wait Until July 2026
Early adopters gain competitive advantage, better patient satisfaction, and locked-in pricing. Join Login.Health and be ready for the future of patient intake.