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Fed Tests a Payment Window for the Whole Government, Starting with Health

The promise of choice comes with questions about cost, control and who owns the pipes.

Federal authorities are about to find out whether they can make a single payment window serve a whole government; they have chosen the health sector to run the experiment. A single platform would connect public institutions with banks and other payment providers, for citizens to pay for a public service through whichever bank or channel they already use. The plan would end a patchwork in which government agencies run their own systems or steer people to a particular bank.

Aug 22 , 2026
By BEZAWIT HULUAGER ( FORTUNE STAFF WRITER )

Mekdes Daba, Minister

Fed Tests a Payment Window for the Whole Government, Starting with Health

The promise of choice comes with questions about cost, control and who owns the pipes.

Federal authorities are about to find out whether they can make a single payment window serve the whole government, choo...

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Fed Tests a Payment Window for the Whole Government, Starting with Health

The promise of choice comes with questions about cost, control and who owns the pipes.