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Medical copays reduce health care access in MS prisons; Israel planted explosives in pagers sold to Hezbollah according to official sources; Serving looks with books: Libraries fight 'fast fashion' by lending clothes; Menhaden decline threatens Virginia's ecosystem, fisheries.

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JD Vance calls for toning down political rhetoric, while calls for his resignation grow because of his own comments. The Secret Service again faces intense criticism, and a right to IVF is again voted down in the US Senate.

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A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

Medical Privacy Vanishes for Some MI Public Employees

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Monday, April 21, 2008   

East Lansing, MI – A new privacy alert: Medical records for some Michigan public employees could be available for anyone to see. The Michigan Education Association has verified a case where employees in the Lawton School District were ordered to turn over their health histories, and that of their families, so the district could shop around for health insurance.

Ed Sarpolus with the MEA says sharing that information with an employer goes against federal laws designed to protect medical privacy.

"I don't know of any time that you've ever turned over privacy information, unless it's directly to your doctor, your lawyer, or to the actual insurance company that you're going to be using for your health care."

Sarpolus believes Public Act 106, passed last fall and designed to reduce health insurance costs, is to blame because it doesn't require privacy protection. Although federal laws protect medical information, the way the state law was written does not guarantee privacy. In fact, he says, it guarantees the LOSS of privacy.

"Somebody off the street can say: 'I want that information. This is a publicly-funded institution, and that means I can get anything that you have.'"

He warns that the information could be used to discriminate against workers, that public employers could decide to eliminate coverage for certain conditions, or that anyone could demand to see the information because it's public record.


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