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News Wire / politics

Privacy Concerns Persist Over US Intelligence Programs

WAMU 88.5 DC Washington D.C. 14d14d Impact 5

The Office of Personnel Management requested unusually detailed data from 65 companies regarding how federal workers use their health insurance. John Hatton of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association stated there is no good reason for the current OPM data request. Hatton expressed a lack of trust in the Office of Personnel Management to secure data from breaches or to prevent the abuse of that data. The comments follow reports of retaliation against former federal employees since President Trump took office. Experts are questioning the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) request for employee medical data, noting it differs from standard insurer practices. While health companies share data to improve patient outcomes, this request would grant employers access to detailed medical information and specific spending data per employee.

The Office of Personnel Management requested unusually detailed data from 65 companies regarding how federal workers use their health insurance. John Hatton of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association stated there is no good reason for the current OPM data request. Hatton expressed a lack of trust in the Office of Personnel Management to secure data from breaches or to prevent the abuse of that data. The comments follow reports of retaliation against former federal employees since President Trump took office. Experts are questioning the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) request for employee medical data, noting it differs from standard insurer practices. While health companies share data to improve patient outcomes, this request would grant employers access to detailed medical information and specific spending data per employee. Analysts noted that while insurers share data to improve patient outcomes, this OPM request raises questions regarding how the information will be used. The notice claims the data will be used to provide competitive, quality, and affordable plans. Democratic lawmakers, including Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, have argued that the government's data handover is illegal. Republicans controlling congressional oversight have not yet responded to calls to reverse the course, according to reporting. Critics in Congress and the public continue to question whether American privacy is adequately protected under current intelligence laws. Despite feedback from the CIA and FBI indicating compliance, some lawmakers remain unconvinced by existing safeguards.

Topics

federal workers privacy health insurance OPM

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Sources · 7 independent

WAMU 88.5 DC

“This winter, the Office of Personnel Management asked 65 companies for unusually detailed data on how federal workers use their health insurance.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“The total's about eight million people nationally, nearly three quarters of a million live in DC, Maryland and Virginia. Legal health experts and health executives expressed reservations about OPM's request.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“Legal health experts and health executives expressed reservations about OPM's request. They say it's overly broad and raises significant HIPAA compliance issues.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“I don't think people trust OPM to secure their data from data breaches. I don't think people trust OPM to not abuse the use of that data either.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“How is that different from what OPM is asking for? In this case, the employer would have access to all of your medical information.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“the employer would have access to all of your medical information. They'd have more detailed information on how much they're spending on you as an employee.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“In this case, the employer would have access to all of your medical information. They'd have more detailed information on how much they're spending on you as an employee.”

WAMU 88.5 DC

“the wording of this request is broad and vague and there's concern that this could violate workers medical privacy.”

C-SPAN Radio

“the criticism here is that those 30 editions, just a few years ago, still aren't enough to convince enough Americans, including some that exist in Congress right now, that their privacy is in fact protected.”

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