Source: Cato Institute
by Patrick G Eddington & Jeffrey A Singer
“Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), law enforcement usually needs a warrant, court order or subpoena to access a patient’s medical records. However, ICE has taken advantage of a legal loophole by obtaining insurance claims data from third-party clearinghouses and data brokers. By accessing these alternative channels, federal agents can avoid legal protections designed to safeguard patient privacy. … ICE’s use of these databases serves as a stark reminder that tools designed for legitimate purposes, such as detecting insurance fraud, can be quietly turned into instruments of surveillance. ICE’s misuse of medical claims data not only threatens undocumented migrants but also, by eroding trust in the public health system, endangers all Americans.” (07/30/25)
https://www.cato.org/commentary/why-ice-spying-us-citizens-medical-data