White House announces new way for private companies to track medical data
The Trump administration unveiled a health partnership between the White House and private tech companies, aiming to simplify health tracking and record access for Americans. However, some have raised concerns about the ethics and legality of the plan.
The administration said more than 60 companies, including Google, Amazon and Apple have signed on to the plan. Major health care groups like UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health have also agreed to help with the plan.
What is the goal of the initiative?
The administration’s new proposal will focus on diabetes, weight management, conversational artificial intelligence that helps patients and digital tools that register patients for check-ins or track medications. President Donald Trump announced the plan aimed at improving the speed and affordability of healthcare for Americans, according to The Associated Press.
“For decades America’s health care networks have been overdue for a high tech upgrade,” Trump said. “The existing systems are often slow, costly and incompatible with one another, but with today’s announcement, we take a major step to bring health care into the digital age.”
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will oversee the program. CMS officials said patients will need to opt in to allow the system to share their medical records and data. They stressed that the data will be secure.
According to the AP, the officials said the program will help people, allowing them to quickly find their records without having to use fax machines or older technology.
“We have the tools and information available now to empower patients to improve their outcomes and their healthcare experience,” CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said.
Why do some have concerns?
Some legal experts raised concerns that the new system may put convenience over keeping medical records private. Georgetown University law professor Lawrence Gostin said this should concern Americans.
“There are enormous ethical and legal concerns,” Gostin told the AP. “Patients across America should be very worried that their medical records are going to be used in ways that harm them and their families.”
Some also said the administration didn’t offer details on whether patients would be able to access their medical data in ways that would keep them private. David Holtzman, a technology and privacy expert, also told The New York Times that much of what Trump announced is already in place.
However, Trump tried to address those concerns during the Wednesday event announcing the program. According to The Times, he reaffirmed that data will only be available if someone opts in and that it will be “quiet.”
“People are very, very concerned about personal records. They want to keep them very quiet, and that’s their choice,” Trump said. “It will be absolutely quiet.”
How would the program work?
Acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency, Amy Gleason, also attended the announcement event. She said patients will be able to use a QR code to transfer their medical records to providers and doctors. An AI assistant would then help the patient assess documents they get from their doctors.
Gleason said the new plan isn’t about eliminating doctors, just helping to “fill the gap between visits.”
One of the companies that has signed on to the program, the weight loss company Noom, said this can help them provide better care. CEO Geoff Cook told the AP his company would be able to access a person’s data from apps like Apple Health.
In Noom’s case, Cook said they would be able to look at a person’s medical tests and labs which would help develop an AI-driven analysis of what might help that person lose weight.
The White House said they expect the program to begin in early 2026.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
