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Federal Enforcement Now Active
Information Blocking
Is Illegal.
It Must End Now.
When hospitals, EHR vendors, and health systems block access to your medical records, they violate federal law — and disabled Americans pay the price with denied benefits, delayed care, and years of lost income.
"I thought they were going to be, you know, that partner for me as I was for them to get that relief. And that relief never came. You should have access to your medical records." — John, OKC"
1,300+
Federal complaints filed since 2021
$1M
Maximum penalty per violation
90%
Of complaints target healthcare providers
85%
Of complaints filed by patients
The Crisis
This Is Not a Glitch in the System.
It Is the System.
Information blocking is a practice by healthcare providers, EHR technology companies, or health information networks that interferes with, prevents, or materially discourages access to electronic health information. Under the 21st Century Cures Act, it is a federal violation.
For years, a handful of dominant EHR vendors and the health systems built around them have created technical barriers, charged excessive fees, imposed unnecessary delays, and restricted the flow of records between providers and patients — all while individuals suffer the consequences.
In September 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. directed the department to begin an active enforcement crackdown. The Office of Inspector General and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT are now investigating complaints, with civil monetary penalties of up to $1 million per violation.
The era of voluntary compliance is over.
"I believed that Social Security was going to be there. I didn't think there would be any problems. I paid in many years of all my life for all the work I've done. So when my time came that I was not able to do that work anymore, I thought they were going to be there. I thought they were going to be, you know, that partner for me as I was for them to get that relief. And that relief never came. You should have access to your medical records."
— John, OKC
"Information blocking is not just a technical nuisance. It's a direct threat to safe, coordinated, high-quality care."
— AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD
Know Your Rights
Common Federal Violations
These aren't minor inconveniences — they are recognized violations of the 21st Century Cures Act. If you've experienced any of these, you have grounds to file a federal complaint.
Unreasonable Delays
Your provider takes weeks or months to release electronic records with no clear justification — or simply stops responding to requests altogether.
45 CFR § 171 Violation
Excessive Fees
You're charged fees to access your own electronic health information, or your provider charges exorbitant rates to transfer records to another system.
45 CFR § 171 Violation
Technical Barriers
Proprietary portals, incompatible formats, broken download links, or systems designed to make it functionally impossible to export your records.
45 CFR § 171 Violation
Unnecessary Paperwork
You're forced to complete redundant forms, provide notarized requests, or jump through procedural hoops that have no legal basis.
45 CFR § 171 Violation
Restricted Exchange
Your health system shares records freely within its own network but blocks or limits exchange with outside providers, specialists, or disability examiners.
45 CFR § 171 Violation
Incomplete Records
Parts of your medical history are withheld, redacted without legal basis, or provided in partial form that omits critical details needed for your claim.
45 CFR § 171 Violation
The Human Cost
When Records Are Blocked,
Disability Benefits Are Denied.
Medical evidence is the cornerstone of every Social Security disability determination. When providers or technology companies block access to that evidence, the people who suffer most are disabled Americans waiting months or years for benefits they've already earned.
01
A Provider Delays or Blocks Records
A hospital, clinic, or EHR system fails to release medical records in a timely or complete manner — often for weeks or months. The claimant has no leverage and no recourse.
02
SSA Can't Evaluate the Claim
The Social Security Administration requires objective medical evidence to determine disability. Without complete records, examiners can't assess severity, duration, or functional limitations.
03
The Claim Is Denied or Delayed
Insufficient medical evidence is one of the most common reasons for disability denial. Claimants are forced into consultative exams, appeals, or years-long hearing backlogs — all because records they were entitled to were never released.
04
Lives Are Upended
Lost benefits mean lost housing, lost healthcare, and lost stability. SSA currently faces up to 6 million pending cases. Every day a provider delays records is a day closer to a denial for someone who can't afford to wait.
Enforcement Timeline
The Law Is Here.
Enforcement Is Now.
After nearly a decade of incremental policy development, the federal government has moved from education to accountability. Here's how we got here.
2016
21st Century Cures Act Signed
Congress outlaws information blocking and directs HHS to establish enforcement mechanisms for interoperability.
2020
ONC Final Rule Published
Sets technical standards for APIs and certified health IT. Defines information blocking, its actors, and the eight regulatory exceptions.
April 2021
Information Blocking Rules Take Effect
Compliance becomes mandatory. ONC opens the Report Information Blocking Portal for public complaints.
September 2023
OIG Civil Money Penalties Finalized
Penalties of up to $1 million per violation take effect for health IT developers, health information exchanges, and health information networks.
July 2024
Provider Disincentives Finalized
Medicare-participating hospitals and clinicians face financial disincentives, including loss of meaningful EHR user status and MIPS penalties. Median hospital disincentive estimated at $394,353.
September 2025
HHS Announces Active Enforcement Crackdown
Secretary Kennedy directs increased resources to information blocking enforcement. OIG and ASTP/ONC issue a joint enforcement alert. Active investigations begin.
What AADJ Is Doing
Leading the Fight for
Records Access and Accountability
AADJ isn't waiting for the system to fix itself. We are actively building the legal, legislative, and grassroots infrastructure to hold information blockers accountable and protect disabled Americans.
Federal Enforcement Coordination
We work with HHS, OIG, and ASTP/ONC to channel complaints into the federal enforcement pipeline, ensuring that systemic violators face investigation and penalties.
State Attorney General Coalition
We're building a multi-state coalition to pursue information blocking enforcement at the state level, targeting the largest violators through coordinated legal action.
Testimonial Evidence Gathering
We are collecting video testimonials from individuals across the country whose lives have been directly impacted by information blocking — building an undeniable record of harm.
Litigation and Policy Strategy
We're coordinating class action litigation preparation and partnering with media organizations to expose the systemic practices that block patients from their own health data.
Take Action
Your Experience Is Evidence.
Your Voice Is Power.
Every complaint filed, every story shared, and every signature collected strengthens the case for systemic accountability. The federal government is listening — and acting.
Report Information Blocking
Experienced delays or denial of access to your medical records? Tell us what happened.
Resources
Understand the Law. Know Your Rights.
Federal
Federal Enforcement Coordination
We work with HHS, OIG, and ASTP/ONC to channel complaints into the federal enforcement pipeline, ensuring that systemic violators face investigation and penalties.
Federal
State Attorney General Coalition
We're building a multi-state coalition to pursue information blocking enforcement at the state level, targeting the largest violators through coordinated legal action.
DATA
Testimonial Evidence Gathering
We are collecting video testimonials from individuals across the country whose lives have been directly impacted by information blocking — building an undeniable record of harm.
Enforcement
Litigation and Policy Strategy
We're coordinating class action litigation preparation and partnering with media organizations to expose the systemic practices that block patients from their own health data.