BALTIIMORE--Last week, CMS announced details of a new project encouraging Medicare beneficiaries to take advantage of Internet-based resources to track health care services and communicate with their providers.

Premiering in South Carolina, the pilot program uses an online personal health record (PHR) to help beneficiaries collect and access information about their health or health care services, such as medical conditions, hospitalizations, doctor visits and medications. CMS said it will ensure privacy and security safeguards are in place to protect the beneficiary data.

For the voluntary pilot, beneficiaries will use a PHR populated by their own Medicare claims data. Key information from providers' claims will be automatically entered once the individual registers and requests the data.

A PHR is different than an electronic health record (EHR), which is owned by and under the control of the physician, in that it is under the control of the patient. The beneficiary will control who is able to see the information in the PHR and will decide whether and with whom the information can be shared--from health care providers to caregivers and family members.

The test program, which began on April 4, is expected to run for 12 months. CMS said it will use information from the pilot to determine future steps with respect to PHRs.

The South Carolina PHR pilot follows another initiative launched in June of 2007 in which CMS is collaborating with seven health plans to test the use of PHRs for beneficiaries who are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plan.

More information about the project is available at www.myphrsc.com.