A consumer advocacy group is urging patients to boycott a statewide California health information exchange until the exchange addresses privacy concerns, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog is urging patients to opt out of participating in the California Integrated Data Exchange, a collaboration between payers Anthem and Blue Shield of California.
Cal Index is in the process of sending notices to their total 9 million customers saying their medical information will be included in the database unless they ask to opt out, according to the report.
However, Consumer Watchdog is concerned that Cal Index has not released its full privacy and security policy, leaving questions about patient privacy unanswered.
"We urge people to opt out because Anthem and Blue Shield have failed to notify consumers of everything they plan to do with their medical information," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog, in the report.
According to David Watson, chief executive of Cal Index, less than 1 percent of the 4 million people notified so far have opted out of Cal Index, and 30,000 more consumers have called to ask questions and learn more, the report indicates.
Mr. Watson also mentioned that the full privacy and security policy should be available within the next week.
"We are very committed to operating in an ethical and legal manner," Mr. Watson said in the report. "I think we did a reasonable job of explaining our policies, but that may not be at the level of detail the Consumer Watchdog folks wanted to see. We've been preparing our privacy policies and hiring staff."
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