Congress: Act to Stop Illegal Medical Data Sharing - Enforce Privacy Laws

Today I take pen in hand to write and urge you to take what legal and legislative means you have to oppose the illegal data sharing of Medicaid and probably other medical information by the Trump Administration with DHS. States have already brought lawsuits to stop this, you must back them up. As you know, the Trump administration violated federal privacy laws by releasing private Medicaid data on millions of enrollees to deportation officials is a alarming breach of fundamental rights and legal compliance. Sharing sensitive personal health information, including names, addresses, social security numbers, and immigration status, without proper justification or protocols undermines the very purpose of privacy safeguards like HIPAA. In the wrong hands, it will ruin innocent people’s lives. This unauthorized disclosure puts vulnerable individuals at risk and erodes public trust in the healthcare system. We urge you to take immediate action to halt this unethical data sharing practice. This criminal administration must be held accountable for disregarding long-standing privacy protections and misusing confidential records. Slaps on the wrist won’t do it any more. In Europe, violations of GDPR laws with data can result in billions of dollars in fines. Maybe we need new legislation with imprisonment being a higher level of punishment. Protecting patient confidentiality should be a core principle, not an inconvenient obstacle to ignore for for the purposes of misguided enforcement efforts. I fail to understand why Republicans, even Trump supporters are not more vocal in opposing the stealing of their data. They’re the most paranoid a bout ‘government’ knowing too much about them. Individuals must have confidence that their personal medical details will remain secure and will not be exploited for unrelated purposes without consent. Stringent measures are needed to prevent future violations, restore data integrity, and reassure the public that their private health information is truly safeguarded as required by law. Preserving medical privacy is essential for encouraging people to seek necessary care without fear of repercussions. We call on you to defend this fundamental right and ensure full compliance with all applicable privacy regulations. Swift corrective action must be taken. Contact the medical organizations and their legal representation immediately. Only enforcement of privacy laws can help rebuild confidence and reinforce our society's commitment to ethical data practices. Thank you.