OPM Faces Criticism Over Federal Health Data Request

The Trump administration intends to gain access to medical records, prescriptions, and diagnoses for eight million federal workers and their families. The Office of Personnel Management requested unusually detailed data from 65 companies regarding how federal workers use their health insurance, including prescriptions and doctor visits. The request includes names of patients, doctors, diagnoses, and procedures, which legal experts say raises HIPAA compliance issues. Affected groups include federal workers, postal workers, their families, and some retirees including former members of Congress. The request affects approximately one million people nationally, including nearly 750,000 in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. Some former employees report government retaliation since President Trump took office. John Hatton of the National Active and data breach monitoring group stated there is no good reason for personally identifiable health data to be held by the OPM, citing lack of trust in agency data handling. Health policy experts noted that the data could be used to track how much the government spends on specific employees, potentially creating an incentive to lower healthcare costs. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Mark Warner, have requested the government reverse course on the data request. Experts warn the move could violate workers' medical privacy. The agency has not yet published a final decision on the request and has not responded to inquiries for comment. Washington's request for personal medical data has caused issues in Accra.