President Donald Trump announced a plan for a new private health tracking system that will make it easier for patients to access their health records and monitor their wellness across health care systems and technologies.
The system, however, raises a host of privacy questions.
The collaboration between the federal government and Big Tech would allow patients to more seamlessly track and share their medical records or data among doctors, hospital systems and health apps, the administration and participating companies say.
Details of the system were announced July 30 during a White House event dubbed "Making Health Technology Great Again." The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said 60 companies signed on to work with the system and pledged to "deliver results to the American people in the first quarter of 2026."
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The system would be maintained by the federal government through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, pulling health data kept by Big Tech companies like Amazon, Google and Apple as well as major health companies like hospital system Cleveland Clinic and insurer UnitedHealth Group.
Patients will need to opt in to have their medical records and data shared, which CMS says will be kept secure. Once a patient is in the system, their information could be shared across apps or health systems that join the initiative.
For example, the Apple Health app on your iPhone that tracks your daily step count or your sleep could access lab results from your doctor's office. Putting that information together, the Trump administration says, will offer a more full picture of your health.
Apps and AI technology also could help people make better choices at the grocery store or identify patterns in their day-to-day life that might affect their health, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said during the White House event.
"Now if you have your medical records, you can get personalized advice," he said.
How things work now
Currently, there's no unified database where a person's health data and medical records are kept. However, the Trump administration made a similar proposal back in 2018 that never fully came to fruition.
Each health system stores, shares and releases patients' records in different ways. That's a big reason a lot of systems still rely on fax machines, because it's a guaranteed way to share records between offices and hospitals. Faxing is also a secure way to send information that complies with federal privacy laws.
Some health networks also have their own apps, electronic systems or websites that allow patients to look up their records online or share information with other providers.
Privacy a top concern
Patient advocates and ethicists say many may worry about how their health information -- something Americans have long carefully guarded -- could be used in ways they don't want or expect.
"There are enormous ethical and legal concerns," said Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor who specializes in public health. "Patients across America should be very worried that their medical records are going to be used in ways that harm them and their families."
Also, digital privacy advocates say they are skeptical that patients will be able to count on their data being stored securely.
"This scheme is an open door for the further use and monetization of sensitive and personal health information," said Jeffrey Chester at the Center for Digital Democracy.
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