Is USPS Building A Database Of Employee Health Information?

9.25.2014 – Rick Owens – Postal Employee Network

USPS has had personal records/files on all employees for a very long time – are they now building a database of health information that would include your personal information? If so, for what purpose?

According to ExecutiveGov.com today the postal service is already building this database or may be in the process of doing so – or, maybe this database is already in use. Karen DeSalvo, national coordinator for Health Information Technology, says “They have hundreds of thousands of employees for whom they are making a personal health record and a portal so they can access their health information.”

The way we read this is that USPS will be able to access your health information at any time they so choose – why and for what purpose? We already know that USPS wants to create their own health insurance for postal employees and drop postal employees from the FEHB program – is this the first step in attempting to make this a reality?

Billy Mitchell, of FedScoop, writes the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT within the Health and Human Services Department plans to collaborate with the U.S. Postal Service to build health record interoperability tools.

We believe employee health information should be kept between the employee and their physician. What do you think?

1A-PEN

3 Responses to "Is USPS Building A Database Of Employee Health Information?"

  1. In my opinion, this is not OK for USPS to do. They have no rights to our medical information, hence my visit to this website today;
    I came to this website today to find out about my HIPPA rights being violated by an “acting” supervisors substitute, both craft employees, both are untrained, unofficial “supervisors”. And my official supervisor tried to tell me that that was OK? really?
    Any feed back would be greatly appreciated.

    Natalie – if you believe your HIPPA rights have been violated you can file a claim/complaint with the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services here:

    http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/index.html

    We cannot do anything regarding your rights. You may want to first talk with your union representative regarding your concern.

  2. I tried calling APWU national and pushed to connect to the executive department and was transfered to a voicemail of the Human Resources Department that stated that they only accept calls from stewards. Can you clue me in who to call at APWU that might give a damn?

    Steve – only accept calls from stewards…what about the dues paying members? Sorry Steve – maybe write them a letter or your union business agent (sorry, don’t know who that is). PEN

  3. Does the APWU have an opinion on this?

    Steve – we do not know, but all of the unions should look into this. PEN

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.