Apple in Talks to Offer Veterans Access to Electronic Medical Records on iPhone - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

Apple in Talks to Offer Veterans Access to Electronic Medical Records on iPhone

by

Apple is holding talks with the Department of Veterans Affairs about offering electronic health records to military veterans, reports The Wall Street Journal.

Apple already provides access to electronic medical records through the Health app on iOS devices for patients of participating hospitals and medical groups.

health records ios 11
Under the terms of the discussions, Apple would expand the feature to veterans, creating special software tools that would allow the VA's estimated nine million veterans to transfer their records to the iPhone.

According to The Wall Street Journal, top VA officials and associates from Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club discussed the project in emails that were obtained by the newspaper. The emails suggest the Trump administration "wrestled early on with the project's goals."

Apple first introduced its Health Records feature in the United States in the iOS 11.3 update released in March. More than 100 medical providers and hospitals have signed up to partner with Apple, allowing iPhone users to access their health records on their iOS devices.

Simple access to health records across multiple medical providers allows patients and doctors alike to better track healthcare. Health Records displays information that includes allergies, vital signs, conditions, immunizations, medications, labs, and procedures.

Health records can be accessed in the Health app under the "Health Data" section. After choosing and authenticating with a provider, all relevant medical data is available through the Health app and is updated automatically following doctor visits.

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Popular Stories

iOS 27 Next to iPhone

Here's When iOS 27 Rolls Out Today in Every Time Zone [Update: It's Out]

Sunday September 13, 2026 3:00 am PDT by
Update 10:04 a.m.: iOS 27 is rolling out now, though it may take a bit for all users to see it, so keep checking! Apple is about to release iOS 27, which will finally deliver more advanced Siri AI capabilities as well as a variety of other refinements, improvements, and new features to iPhones. It's Apple's biggest software update of the year, and Apple announced at Wednesday's iPhone event...
Read Full Article • 151 comments
iOS 27 Icon iPhone

iOS 27 Available Now With These 8 New Features

Monday September 14, 2026 9:00 am PDT by
Update — 10 a.m. Pacific Time: Apple has released iOS 27. During its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event last week, Apple announced that iOS 27 will be released widely on Monday, September 14. iOS 27 should be available around 10 a.m. Pacific Time / 1 p.m. Eastern Time today via the Settings app, under General → Software Update. Below, we have highlighted eight new features and...
Read Full Article • 111 comments
Apple iCloud Plus expansion hero

iCloud+ Now Includes Apple TV, Apple Arcade, and Curated Apple Music Stations in Over 100 Countries

Tuesday September 15, 2026 1:43 am PDT by
Apple today announced a new subscription initiative that turns paid iCloud+ subscriptions into a broader services bundle in more than 100 countries. In select countries, Apple says every paid iCloud+ plan, including the cheapest 50GB tier, now includes Apple TV and Apple Arcade "at no additional cost," while family sharing extends the storage, TV and Arcade access to up to five people....
Read Full Article • 105 comments

Top Rated Comments

T
thespazz
102 months ago
This is not a political post. Should not be posted here.

The VA has typically VERY technology forward when it comes to electronic medical records. They manage and maintain one of the earliest electronic medical records known at this time. CPRS/ViSTA has been around since the 1970s and is actually quite effective. It has some aspects that are a little quirky, but what medical record doesn't?

I would see the VA being willing and open to integrating with Apple. I would be quit thrilled to see an EMR solution like this available at the VA. Those who say "government hurrr durrr" don't have an understanding of the VA's ability to incorporate new technologies. They're a little slow, but they usually advance at a good pace. For instance, they have an electronic consent program that is miles ahead of the public and private institutions locally in my city. They also have a great 2 factor authentication system that is far and away the most secure implementation that I have used in my time as both a medical student and a resident physician.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
mariusignorello
102 months ago
As great as this would be, the government will screw it up as always. Technology and government never seems to mix well.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThunderSkunk Avatar
ThunderSkunk
102 months ago
In all fairness government screws up everything it touches.
That’s in all fairness?
If you idealistic anarchists had any idea how much of what exists today only exists because the big bad inept evil government grabbed the idea with one hand and pulled out its wallet with the other, you’d realize how absurd that ideology is.

But as explained in the post, this isn’t about the gov creating or running something, it’s about Apple asking permission and doing it. Not that politics people ever need to actually read the articles to base wild opinions on...
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
noslenam Avatar
noslenam
102 months ago
First why don’t they give veterans a big discount because most of them probably can’t afford alot of what Apple has to offer.

I’m not a vet but my dad is and the only way they have iPhones are because we have purchased them for them.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tridley68 Avatar
tridley68
102 months ago
In all fairness government screws up everything it touches.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dontwalkhand Avatar
dontwalkhand
102 months ago
I don't know about all of the negative nancys out there with this. Guys this is a good thing, and they have got start somewhere. They also have the same integration with the Mayo Clinic as well. Hopefully soon most hospitals and doctors offices will start supporting this as well.

The idea is this:

-Apple Wallet will hold all of your credit, debit, and other passes.
-Health will hold all of your health information and Medical ID cards.
-ONE state in the US now has a digital driver's license, Louisiana, I know Arizona is getting it next. In most states, if not all, allow you to use your car insurance on your insurance company's app.
-HomeKit to unlock your doors, set your temp, open your garage door
-Something in the car to start the car, etc.
-Many transit agencies offer apps to get on a bus/train.

The idea is that this is the ONLY thing one would need to carry with you. It is a godsend out there for men who don't have purses to lug stuff around in.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments