1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

As your constituent, I strongly oppose any federal policy or program that allows government access to my private medical records without my explicit, individual permission. My medical information is intensely personal and must remain under my control. No federal access should occur without a clear, documented patient authorization, and no public benefit or government service should be conditioned on permitting such access. Federal rules expanding electronic access and interoperability (including the Cures Act information‑sharing rules) rightly empower patients to obtain and move their own records, but they also create pathways that could be misused if strong guardrails are not enforced. Any policy that permits government agencies to obtain medical records without a warrant, a court order based on probable cause, or an individual’s informed consent risks violating privacy, chilling care‑seeking behavior, and undermining trust in the health system. Current legal authorities and exceptions (e.g., for national security, law enforcement, or certain public‑health disclosures) are broad and, in practice, can allow disclosure without patient notice — that must change. I urge you to support legislation and oversight to ensure: Explicit patient consent is required before any federal agency may access an individual’s medical records, except in narrowly tailored emergency situations with post‑event judicial review. No eligibility, benefit, or government service may be conditioned on waiving medical‑record privacy. Robust notice, transparency, and audit requirements whenever records are requested or disclosed to government entities, and clear remedies for improper access. Strong technical and contractual protections for third parties and app developers who handle health data, including strict limits on onward sharing and sale. Please stand with your constituents to protect medical privacy and limit government intrusion into sensitive health information. I ask that you (1) oppose any measures that expand federal warrantless access to health records, (2) back reforms requiring patient authorization and notice, and (3) pursue oversight to ensure existing rules are not used to bypass individual consent. Thank you for representing my views on this vital issue.