Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has officially launched its Living HHS Open Data Plan, adopting an "open by default" strategy for high-value datasets. This initiative, announced on July 30, 2025, aims to enhance transparency and accelerate research by breaking down data silos across agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The plan seeks to maximize the return on investment for taxpayers by making federal health data more accessible.
The "open by default" culture is designed to foster collaboration and eliminate internal barriers within HHS operating divisions. Version 1.0 of the Living HHS Open Data Plan introduces a dynamic, modular approach to data management. This framework is expected to empower stakeholders with critical HHS data, leading to improved services and more informed decision-making.
Accompanying the plan's release is a refreshed HealthData.gov website, featuring improved data quantity and enhanced quality. The site now includes three new public assets: the HHS Open Data Plan (Version 1.0), the HHS Metadata Standard (Version 1.0), and the HHS Data Inventory (Version 1.0). These resources are intended to provide a clearer, more standardized approach to data sharing.
The plan is publicly available on GitHub, underscoring HHS's commitment to transparency and community involvement in data governance. This move aligns with broader government efforts to make public data more accessible and usable for innovation. The initiative promises to revolutionize medical innovation and accountability by leveraging collective intelligence.
Bart de Witte, a notable figure in the health tech community, expressed strong approval for the new plan on social media. > "Oh wow, this is BIG!!! The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched its Living HHS Open Data Plan, committing to an 'OPEN BY DEFAULT' approach for high-value datasets... This initiative, aims to maximize taxpayers' return on investment by breaking down data silos and accelerating research," de Witte stated in his tweet. He further added, "Well done @RobertKennedyJr and team! The future is open!" highlighting his positive outlook on the implications of this new data strategy.