Will FBI have access to BC medicare data?

VICTORIA -- Concerns over security and confidentiality hover over British Columbia's plans to privatize data management of its medical and pharmacare plans. BC is about to complete its year-long negotiation with Restom VA based Maximus Inc. manage its medical and pharmaceutical programs.

When the contract is concluded, Maximus will be responsible for enrolling applicants in and maintaining records of the province's Medical Services Plan and its Pharmacare program.

One of the key concerns of the B.C. negotiators and government critics is how to shield the information from the u.s. Patriot Act which enables the u.s. Federal Bureau of Investigation to obtain databases from American corporations and their foreign subsidiaries. It also prohibits corporations from revealing to clients that their information has been passed on to the FBI.

Maximus is a subsidiary of information processing giant Cognos which describes itself as "the world leader in business intelligence," and claims more than 22,000 customers in 135 countries.

Critics of the contract say the contract will give American authorities access to individuals' health records, including patients with AIDS and those using medical marijuana.

Others critics claim that:

* contracting out medicare administration in BC sets a precedent under the terms of the North American Free Trade Agreement and may open the door to U.S. demands for privatization of publically-run health services across the country; and

* may violate the public administration requirement of the Canada Health Act.

The BC Ministry of Health Services says the contract is "aimed at providing greater efficiency and better value for taxpayers." Spokesperson Suzanne Germain adds: "The advantage for us is to provide specialized expertise and technology. The technology the Medical Services Plan uses is paper-based and outmoded."

BC Government Employees Union, recently filed a court challenge on the grounds the contract violates the Canada Health Act.