By Scott Stuewe, President and CEO, and Kelly Gwynn, Chief Operating Officer

On July 1, DirectTrust will begin implementing a modernized membership model that reflects how our community has evolved and positions us for future growth.

Since DirectTrust was founded, our mission has remained consistent: to advance trust in healthcare through interoperability, identity, standards, and independent assessment of technology supporting those initiatives. Along the way, our organization has expanded significantly. Today, DirectTrust supports a broad range of programs and initiatives, including standards development, accreditation and certification, trust infrastructure, cybersecurity, and industry collaboration.

As our community and programs have grown, it has become clear that our membership structure should evolve as well.

Our Board of Directors recently approved a new membership model designed to provide organizations with greater flexibility in how they engage with DirectTrust while continuing to support the collaborative environment that has always been central to our success.

A More Flexible Approach to Membership

Beginning July 1, new organizations joining DirectTrust will be able to select the membership category that best aligns with their interests and business objectives.

The new model includes four membership categories:

  • Full Membership for organizations seeking broad participation across DirectTrust programs, governance activities, and strategic initiatives.
  • Standards Membership for organizations focused on standards development, implementation guidance, and technical collaboration.
  • Accreditation Membership for organizations engaged in accreditation, certification, trust framework activities, and cybersecurity initiatives.
  • Adoption Membership for organizations focused on implementation, ecosystem participation, and advancing the adoption of trusted interoperability solutions, particularly in areas such as Direct Secure Messaging.

In addition to restructuring our membership categories, DirectTrust has introduced two new sponsorship opportunities. Initiative Sponsorships allow organizations to support specific programs, workgroups, and strategic priorities that align with their business objectives. Ambassador Sponsorships provide organizations with enhanced visibility and recognition while demonstrating their commitment to advancing trust and interoperability across healthcare.

Together, these sponsorship opportunities create new avenues for engagement, collaboration, and thought leadership within the DirectTrust community.

Why We Made This Change

The goal of this modernization effort is simple: make it easier for organizations to engage with DirectTrust in ways that are meaningful and valuable to them.

Not every organization participates in DirectTrust for the same reasons. Some are deeply involved in standards development. Others are focused on accreditation, cybersecurity, or implementing trusted exchange solutions. The new membership model recognizes these differences while maintaining a strong and connected community.

By creating multiple pathways for participation, we can better support organizations at every stage of their journey while continuing to advance our shared mission.

What Current Members Should Expect

Organizations that join DirectTrust on or after July 1, 2026, will enter under the new membership framework.

For current members, there will be very little change in day-to-day participation. The modernized membership model is intended to build upon the value members already receive by providing additional benefits, engagement opportunities, and pathways for participation.

Implementation of the new membership model will occur in phases over the coming months, with full implementation for existing members taking effect on January 1, 2027. As part of this transition, current members can expect modest dues increases that reflect the expanded benefits and opportunities available through the new model. As new benefits and opportunities become available, we will continue to keep members informed and provide updates on how to take advantage of them.

Our team will be communicating directly with members throughout the implementation process to share additional details and answer questions.

A Special Note for Accredited Organizations

Organizations participating in DirectTrust accreditation programs, as well as organizations that engage DirectTrust as their HITRUST External Assessor, will automatically receive the benefits associated with Accreditation Membership as part of the fees they already pay to DirectTrust.

Organizations interested in participating at an additional membership level or engaging across multiple membership categories will have opportunities to do so. DirectTrust will provide additional information and work directly with interested organizations to discuss available options.

To help accreditation participants better understand the new membership model and available benefits, DirectTrust will host a special Accreditation Member Orientation session in August. Additional details and registration information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Looking Ahead

As DirectTrust continues to grow, our focus remains the same: bringing together organizations that share a commitment to trust, interoperability, and improving healthcare. This updated membership model helps ensure that our community remains strong, engaged, and positioned to meet the opportunities and challenges ahead.

Thank you for your continued support of DirectTrust and our mission. I look forward to sharing more updates as we continue implementing the new membership model over the coming months.