Privacy Concerns Emerge as Medicaid Data Shared with ICE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has granted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials access to the personal data of 79 million Medicaid enrollees. The move is intended to aid in identifying immigrants residing in the U.S. illegally, sparking privacy concerns under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

An HHS spokesperson defended the data sharing, stating it falls within the legal authority of sharing data between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The spokesperson emphasized that the measures ensure Medicaid benefits are reserved for eligible individuals.

The arrangement, first reported by the Associated Press, involves sharing data such as home addresses and ethnicities and is the latest step by the health department in support of the Trump administration's strict immigration policies. Concerns about HIPAA compliance and data misuse remain unaddressed by HHS officials.