WASHINGTON, D.C. — September 3, 2025 — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced a major enforcement initiative to stop health care entities from blocking patients’ access to their own electronic health information.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. directed the department to expand resources and enforcement to ensure patients, caregivers, and providers can freely access, exchange, and use medical records as guaranteed by law.

The crackdown is backed by the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 , which authorizes the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy/National Coordinator for Health IT (ASTP/ONC) to investigate and penalize offenders.

“ Unblocking the flow of health information is critical to u

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