# HHS Issues Health Data Blocking Notices

HHS issued seven letters of potential nonconformity to health-related companies over alleged information blocking. The recipients have not been identified, and no formal penalties or contract awards were reported. HHS is coordinating enforcement with its Office of Inspector General, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Trade Commission, while CMS is convening patients, EHR companies, and providers to address data-access problems. The article notes potential civil penalties of up to $1 million per violation.

- Health IT contractors and companies supporting health-related organizations should review information-sharing practices and applicable information-blocking rules; the signals do not identify specific recipients or establish that any contractor has violated the rules.
- **Why this matters:** Coordinated enforcement and CMS’s work with EHR companies and providers make access to health data a material regulatory and operational concern for health IT suppliers.
- The signals report no contract awards or procurement opportunities, so the immediate relevance is risk management for existing work and health IT services rather than a new solicitation.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Healthcare, Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance, Digital Infrastructure
**Published:** October 19, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
- Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- HHS Office of Inspector General (HHS OIG)
- U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

### Key Quotes
> you know what, you're right, we shouldn't have been doing this, and we're going to change our behavior
> — Thomas Keane, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology

### Sources
- [HHS issues seven nonconformity letters in crackdown on health data blocking - Nextgov/FCW](https://www.nextgov.com/policy/2026/10/hhs-issues-seven-nonconformity-letters-crackdown-health-data-blocking/416689) - Nextgov/FCW
- [HHS issues seven nonconformity letters in crackdown on health data blocking - Nextgov/FCW](https://www.fcw.com/policy/2026/10/hhs-issues-seven-nonconformity-letters-crackdown-health-data-blocking/416689) - Nextgov/FCW