Noting that more than 50 million Americans are vulnerable, U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., wants Social Security numbers removed from Medicare cards.
Deutch sent a letter this week to Marilyn Tavenner, who is stepping down from her post in charge of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), asking her to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards.
Most Americans take great care throughout their lives to protect their Social Security number from being compromised, Deutch wrote in the letter which was sent on Thursday. Yet this lifelong effort is suddenly disregarded once enrolling in Medicare.
"It is my hope that you would convey the importance of the privacy and security of Medicare beneficiaries, and the prevention of improper payments, to your successor, Deutch added. You have the opportunity to leave CMS with a concrete plan to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare beneficiary cards, I respectfully request that you do so.
Noting that the American population was growing older and living longer, Deutch insisted the threat of increased identity thefts will only continue to grow."
While admitting he was aware of a 2006 CMS report which found removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards would require planning and be costly, Deutch downplayed the roadblocks to his proposal.
I know that implementing a new system will be challenging, Deutch wrote Tavenner. Helping providers transition to a new unique identifier for beneficiaries is a significant undertaking. Yet, I fail to see why at a minimum -- the first step of issuing all new Medicare beneficiaries a health insurance claim number distinct from their Social Security number would significantly add to the administrative burden assumed by CMS, claims processors, auditors, and providers. It has been eight years since the release of this CMS report, and that is ample time for the extensive planning to have occurred.
Deutch asked Tavenner for an updated cost estimate and timeline for removing Social Security numbers from Medicare cards.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
