WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa is one of two leading senators asking the federal government to explain to what extent it allows private companies to use data from users of HealthCare.gov.
“This new information is extremely concerning, not only because it violates the privacy of millions of Americans, but because it may potentially compromise their security,” Grassley and Sen. Orrin Hatch wrote to the administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The senators made their inquiry after the Associated Press reported that “the government’s health insurance website is quietly sending consumers’ personal data to private companies that specialize in advertising and analyzing Internet data for performance and marketing.”
The Associated Press continued, “The scope of what is disclosed or how it might be used was not immediately clear, but it can include age, income, ZIP code, whether a person smokes, and if a person is pregnant. It can include a computer’s Internet address, which can identify a person’s name or address when combined with other information collected by sophisticated online marketing or advertising firms.”
Grassley and Hatch want to make sure no personally identifiable information is improperly used or shared.
“People using HealthCare.gov should have the expectation that their information is secure and not being used for sales pitches by outside firms,” Grassley said. “The federal government needs to be clear with consumers on how their information is being used.”
The senators’ letter is available here.
Grassley is a senior member and former chairman and ranking member of the Finance Committee, with jurisdiction over most government health care programs. Grassley is Judiciary Committee chairman. Hatch is Finance Committee chairman.
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