Snapshot: The Public and Doctors Agree with ‘Blue Button’ Idea. (2010). Markle Foundation. Retrieved from: http://www.markle.org/downloadable_assets/20101007_bluebutton_summary.pdf.

A new Markle survey found that most of the U.S. public and doctors believe patients should be able to download and keep copies of their personal health information. That’s the simple idea behind a blue button. This fall, for the first time, American veterans gained that ability, with a blue button that allows them to download their pertinent health information from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Medicare beneficiaries will similarly have a blue button to download their claims information. Government has demonstrated what should be possible for health care consumers everywhere.