The high prevalence of chronic illnesses is a serious public health problem in the United States, accounting for 70% of all deaths. Older adults are especially vulnerable; more than 70 million adults age ≥50 have at least one chronic illness (e.g., heart disease, diabetes). Management of chronic conditions requires long-term use of multiple medications and complex treatment plans, which can cause unintended consequences, such as increased risk of medication errors. Engaging patients in their care and health decision-making processes is vital for the provision of high quality care to people with chronic conditions. Until recently, however, patients were not given access to their own health records and had to call their providers' offices to communicate with them. In the past few years, the nation has made unprecedented efforts to transform health care using information technology (IT). Through secure patient portals (PPs), patients now can access their electronic health records (EHRs), directly send eMessages to their providers, and request medication renewals online. They can also involve their family caregivers in their care more efficiently. PPs are especially helpful for patients with chronic illnesses, as they offer tools to manage health conditions. With the Meaningful Use (MU) incentive payment program by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), healthcare organizations nationwide are implementing PPs and making them available to the public.