PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Federal officials are demanding access to personal data from the Oregon Health Plan as part of a broader effort to scrutinize Medicaid coverage for undocumented immigrants, raising concerns about privacy and potential misuse.
The request follows a similar move by the Department of Homeland Security, which previously obtained health data from California, Illinois, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. — all jurisdictions that, like Oregon, have expanded state-funded health care access to undocumented residents.
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Governor Kotek expresses concern
On Monday, Governor Tina Kotek addressed the issue, saying her office is reviewing the order.
“I think it’s very important, to a degree that we can, that we do not share personal information,” Kotek said. “Always comfortable with aggregated information, but when we start sharing personal medical information that could be misused, that’s a challenge for me.”
The state has until the end of July 2025 to respond to the federal request.
As the deadline approaches, Oregon leaders and advocacy groups are weighing how to balance federal compliance with protecting the rights and privacy of vulnerable communities.
