Rep. Foster. U.S. House bill targets free access to personal health records

The new bill, authored by U.S. Rep. Bill Foster, aims to ensure individuals can access their health information at no cost except in limited circumstances, according to the U.S. Congress.

H.R.7790 was introduced on March 4, 2026 during the 2026 regular session of the 119th Congress. The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill amends the HITECH Act to ensure individuals can access their protected health information at no cost, except in specific situations. It specifies that health care providers may charge fees only if a patient requests a duplicate of information already provided within the same calendar year or if they seek a non-electronic copy that is already available for free on an online portal. Additionally, providers are permitted to transmit health information to other providers in a format that is usable. The legislation clarifies that it does not require providers to offer free copies of information to individuals’ attorneys. The Secretary of Health and Human Services is directed to issue related regulations within six months of the bill’s enactment date, which will take effect 180 days after enactment.

The bill was introduced by Rep. Bill Foster (Democrat-IL-11th District) and co-sponsored by Rep. Joyce Beatty (Democrat-IL-3rd District).

Since the beginning of the current session, Rep. Foster has introduced another 13 bills.

Congressional bills can originate in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the U.S. Senate, except for revenue-related measures, which must begin in the House. After introduction, bills are assigned to committees for review, hearings, amendments and debate before they can advance to a vote in each chamber. If both chambers approve identical versions, the legislation is sent to the president, who may sign it into law or veto it. Congress operates in two-year terms, with each term numbered sequentially and divided into two annual sessions. The legislative process and official bill records are maintained by the U.S. Congress and published through Congress.gov.

Bill Foster is a Representative from Illinois with a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He was first elected as a Democrat to the One Hundred Tenth Congress by special election and has been reelected to the subsequent congresses since the One Hundred Thirteenth Congress.