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OPM to Gather Health Data for 8 Million, Privacy Concerns Raised

7/22/2026

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will begin collecting health records for 8 million employees, retirees and families on July 24.
Sixty-five insurers will send OPM claims with names, diagnoses and prescriptions for health benefits.
OPM will pseudonymize personal data but retains the right to reidentify it.
Senator Mark Warner and Joseph Lorenzo Hall warned the plan could erode trust.
OPM counsel Kurt Dykstra said the data will help detect fraud.

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Story summary

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will begin collecting health records for 8 million employees, retirees and families on July 24.
Sixty-five insurers will send OPM claims with names, diagnoses and prescriptions for health benefits.
OPM will pseudonymize personal data but retains the right to reidentify it.
Senator Mark Warner and Joseph Lorenzo Hall warned the plan could erode trust.
OPM counsel Kurt Dykstra said the data will help detect fraud.