Trump’s HHS Secretary Pick Eyes Transparency, Data Access

President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary nominee, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., aims to increase transparency and data access to enable patients to make more informed decisions about their health care.

“Mr. Kennedy will restore … traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of transparency, to end the chronic disease epidemic,” Trump said on X, after announcing Kennedy as his nominee.

Trump’s first administration battled the onset of COVID-19, resulting in an immediate need for expanded tech services and improved data access.

At Trump’s direction, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) significantly expanded the use of telehealth in rural communities. The agency also established a rural health action plan to build sustainable models for rural communities, focus on preventing disease and mortality, leverage innovation and technology and increase access to care.

Health IT also played a critical role in the first Trump administration’s national emergency response to COVID-19, paving the way for new digital health solutions.

The White House’s rapid response plan included implementing diagnostic technologies and digital services that accelerated testing for COVID-19. Trump gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) swift approval authorities for devices and systems that could scale up COVID-19 testing capabilities.

In 2018, the first Trump administration started the MyHealthEData Initiative, which gave patients the power to control their own health data and how it was used. HHS, along with CMS, Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), participated in the initiative to enable patients to electronically access their health records from the device or application of their choice. Patients also had the freedom to use their data to find certain doctors and special services to meet their needs.

Under the first Trump administration, seniors were offered multiple online tools including Blue Button 2.0, and Care Compare, to check their medical coverage, compare costs as well as streamline data on Medicare.gov. CMS also expanded work on these efforts to improve electronic health record interoperability and drive patient empowerment.

If confirmed by the Senate, Kennedy has said he’s committed to providing Americans with health transparency and innovative tools they need to easily access their data and make the best decisions about their healthcare needs.

“We have a generational opportunity to bring together the greatest minds in science, medicine, industry and government to put an end to the chronic disease epidemic,” Kennedy said. “I will provide Americans with transparency and access to all the data so they can make informed choices for themselves and their families.”