OPM May Delay Launch of Massive Fed Health Database
In response to mounting privacy concerns, the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may delay the proposed November 15th launch date of its Health Claims Data Warehouse. In early October, the OPM’s notice in the Federal Register announced that the “Warehouse” would be built to streamline operations of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program, the National Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Program, and the Multi-State Option Plan- three programs that were included in this year’s Health Reform legislation. The OPM said that the “Warehouse” would collect, manage, and analyze health services data through direct data feeds from each program. The electronic records compiled would include individuals’ personal information such as Social Security Number, date of birth, and employment, as well as information about their healthcare coverage, procedures, and diagnoses. In its announcement, the OPM also noted that it would share this information for law enforcement purposes, judicial and administrative proceedings, and third-party health research and analysis.
In response to the OPM’s announcement, 16 organizations, including The Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT) and the ACLU, released a letter to the OPM citing concerns about the lack of available details about the new database. In particular, the letter pressed the OPM for details about the database’s security and privacy controls, and urged the OPM not to establish the “Warehouse” until the public had a fair chance to review its plans. In response, the OPM has promised to release further details after reviewing public comments, which can be submitted to the OPM up until November 15th. Whether this will delay the launch of the “Warehouse” has not yet been confirmed. However, when the OPM does release their plans, it will be important to ask if such a large government database is necessary, and if it violates the public’s privacy expectations.
This post was prepared with assistance from Melody Hsiou. Melody holds a Master from Public Health from Columbia University, and anticipates completing her Juris Doctorate with a Health Law Concentration from Seton Hall Law School in 2013.
