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We propose to amend the regulations to establish that we can obtain medical evidence from any appropriate source, not just "special arrangement sources," when we can do so adequately and readily. Due to our efforts to improve the evidence collection process through the increased use of Health Information Technology (health IT), we can obtain medical evidence electronically from certain sources, our health IT partners. Although we currently have a limited number of health IT partners, which we consider "special arrangement sources" under our current rules, we expect that more medical providers will adopt electronic health records and that the electronic exchange of medical records will become the primary means by which we obtain evidence. Over time, health IT partners will be regular, not special, sources of medical records. As such, our revised rules will clarify that we will obtain medical evidence from any source in those instances when we can do so adequately and readily. By using this authority to obtain evidence from any appropriate source, we will be able to obtain evidence more quickly and efficiently in certain situations through the increased use of health IT.