Trump to launch effort to improve Americans' access to their medical records -- but privacy concerns loom

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CNN Politics

PUBLISHED Jul 30, 2025, 6:00 AM ET


President Donald Trump on Wednesday will make a fresh push to improve Americans’ access to their own medical records, tasking dozens of major health and technology companies with solving an issue that has long bedeviled the federal government.

The plan is expected to center on a pledge that roughly 60 companies will sign — including tech giants Microsoft and Oracle — to help develop new ways for more easily sharing patient data across the US’s fragmented health care system, three people familiar with the matter told CNN. Trump is slated to tout the voluntary framework during a White House speech on Wednesday.

Yet it remains unclear how quickly the companies can make progress on such a sweeping goal — and how the administration plans to hold them accountable for following through on the high-level, nonbinding commitment. The proposal may also spark pushback from privacy advocates who have warned that making patients’ sensitive health data more widely accessible risks also making it less secure.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which oversees the largest federal health programs, declined to comment on the details of the announcement. But in a statement, spokesperson Catherine Howden said the “initiative aims to build a smarter, more secure and more personalized healthcare system — one that improves patient outcomes, reduces provider burden and drives greater value through private sector innovation and aligned federal leadership.”

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/30/politics/trump-medical-record-health-privacy-tech

[Srkdqltr]

1. We already have MyChart. What is he doing?

[mdbl]

6. What is he doing? Only satan knows

But I don't have any trouble getting my records so obviously he doesn't know WTF he's talking about - as usual.

[travelingthrulife]

2. Or we could just switch to single payer system and forget about

private insurers.

[hay rick]

3. We should have at least as much access to our records as DOGE.

[Srkdqltr]

4. I don't understand how people don't have access to their records. My insurance company sends information on

Doc visits and meds every month. Each of my hospitals and doctors post information to my My Chart. With x-rays and scans and test results. What more do you all want/need? Plus you get an after visit report as you leave the office.

[idahoblue]

5. My chart

My chart, a part of the Epic system most commonly used, allows full access to your chart.
I think this is a backhanded way to get rid of HIPPA.

[Martin68]

7. I already have excellent access to all my medical records online through MyChart. the University of Virginia Health

system takes care of all my medical needs, and they have done a great job making my records available Through MyChart.

[keep_left]

8. Electronic health records have been mandated for at least...

...a decade now, and it would be most unusual for a patient not to have easy access to one's medical information, including tests, prescriptions, etc. Several posters here have mentioned MyChart, which is very popular with many health systems. Then there are all the "wearables", including smart watches, not to mention devices like the CGM for diabetes management (a real game-changer for many patients). Many medical devices can be networked (e.g. smart phone, Apple Watch) and the data shared with one's health care professionals (doctor, diabetes educator, etc.).

The difference here is that the doctor and patient keep control of the confidentiality of the medical information. This looks like another money grab by Tech Bros who didn't want to play by the rules (HIPAA, etc.) the last time around.