Health app developers and patient advocates are urging the Trump administration to finalize a long-pending update to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, originally proposed in 2021, that would expand patients’ ability to access and share their health data through personal health applications. The proposal would clarify that patients can obtain their protected health information for free via apps and direct it to third parties, while limiting fees for record transfers. Supporters argue these changes would improve care coordination, enable data aggregation across providers, and support emerging AI health tools.
Although the rule was proposed in January 2021, it is now in the final stages of interagency review at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). At the same time, the rapid expansion of digital health apps, interoperability initiatives, and AI-enabled tools has heightened the need for clear guidance on how patients can access and control their data under HIPAA. As OMB review continues, provider and hospital groups have raised concerns that expanded third-party access could expose sensitive data to entities not subject to HIPAA and increase the risk of misuse or monetization. Learn more about the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
Last Updated on July 28, 2026 by Aimed Alliance
