US government is pushing to gain unprecedented access to your medical records – as data protections are weakening

Large datasets can be useful research tools, but current government efforts to gather medical records depend on policy and technology that falls short of protecting people’s privacy.

By: Jennifer D. Oliva, Indiana University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: August 17, 2026

Words: 1,588

Last Updated: 1 day ago

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By Jennifer D. Oliva, Indiana University

You might assume that what you tell a doctor stays between you, your physician and perhaps your insurer. But the reality is more complicated.

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the federal privacy law that governs health information and is commonly known as HIPAA, is narrower than its reputation suggests. It regulates hospitals, physicians, insurers and their business associates, but not the health data you generate everywhere …

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