200 million Americans have a health credit report on clarkhoward.com

The Washington Post reports that health "credit reports" have been compiled on 200 million Americans. Ingenix and Milliman are 2 companies that make billions of dollars developing profiles based on your prescriptions. A "pharmacy risk score" tells insurers the risk level you pose to them as a potential customer.

Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) actually sell your information regarding prescriptions. PBMs are a popular option at companies because they offer cheaper prices when you get your drugs online or through the mail -- instead of at a retail pharmacy.

The info in your health "credit report" can be used by an insurer to charge you more or decline you coverage altogether.

Another wrinkle in the story comes with "off-label" prescriptions. Off-label refers to using a prescription for an unintended use. For example, your doctor may be using a depression medication to treat your stomachache. But that off-label usage could redline you with insurers who don't want to see a history of depression medication -- even though you're not depressed.

Under new federal rules, you are allowed to see your health "credit report" from Ingenix and Milliman.

However, the real problem is not the lack of privacy, but rather the way that insurers are allowed to redline you. We need insurance coverage based on community-rating standards -- that is to say, age and sex.

UPDATE: To obtain your Ingenix report, call MedPoint Compliance at 888-206-0335.

What others are saying

how to fix my credit
mr.howard how can i go and fix my credit
By adrian mcleish @ 02/11/09 09:13:40 AMreport abuse
Just another abuse
As a long term diabetic (since age 4), I always been denied things others take for granted. When I graduated from engineering school no one would hire me because of the risks involved in hiring a diabetic. It turned out to be all the Harvard & other "B" educated MBA's causing the trouble. It makes you hope that these folks are brought up on charges when people die due to there awful work.
By Andy @ 02/06/09 12:07:08 PMreport abuse
Ingenix report
I have left my info. on the recorded line has anyone received their report back yet?
Thanks.
By Paul M @ 01/12/09 05:10:19 PMreport abuse
where's the info?
I went to both websites and couldn't find information on how to get my report. Come on, Clark--how could you leave that out?
By SMB @ 09/08/08 03:41:42 PMreport abuse
Health Credit Report and HIPAA
For Those Wondering About HIPAA Violations-
The HIPAA privacy regs specifically apply to "covered entities." Covered entities are 1-Health Plans (Health insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.). 2-Health care Clearing Houses (Such as a biling service). 3- Health care providers (hospitals, clinics, etc.).
I don't think these PBMs fall under any of these 3 categories.
By Dale @ 08/18/08 11:33:55 AMreport abuse
Health Credit Report
So,how do we see our own report?
By Daniel @ 08/17/08 03:09:27 PMreport abuse
Health Credit Report
This will be a welcome addition to an employer's arsenal. Just one more reason to reject. Where does it end????
By Pam @ 08/17/08 01:44:30 PMreport abuse
Health Credit Report
This should come as no suprise, and as a pharmacist, I have been aware of this for years. In fact, my wife was prescribed a med for PMS that was also an SSRI antidepressant. I made her pay cash for it for this very reason.

And these are the insurance companies Clark thinks we will be able to negotiate with as individuals to get health care costs down???????
By butch robbins @ 08/16/08 01:23:46 PMreport abuse
Health Credit Report
Isn't this a violation HIPAA law?
By Josh @ 08/16/08 09:45:20 AMreport abuse
Health credit report
So - how do we see our own report?
By Ron @ 08/15/08 11:56:07 PMreport abuse
health credit report
Your employer based health insurance may not increase, but your car/homeowners/credit card rates just might increase. Potential employers might read these reports and decide not to hire. Good luck in trying to prove that
By mary @ 08/15/08 07:51:07 PMreport abuse
Employer based health insurance
If you get your health insurance thru the government or your employer this can't be used to deny you coverage or charge you more. Individual health insurance is where the problem is.
By MLJ @ 08/15/08 01:31:27 PMreport abuse
HIPPA Anyone
So all that paperwork, all the hassle that it takes to get your own records is sold to banks for purposes other than to treat you. Why is that not a violation of HIPAA?
By Nessy @ 08/14/08 10:06:00 PMreport abuse
Remember the movie Logon's Run. Before long if your over 30 you might as well be hunted down and shot. You will never be able to have anything because one stay in the hospital and you will loose it all. Health insurance is only for the heathly and young. The insurance companies want 0 risk. Your already screwed if you loose a job at 50.
By me @ 08/14/08 08:38:06 PMreport abuse
Health Credit Report
This is an example of data privacy being out of control, especially since the presumption is that these records are accurate.

I've worked in the IT industry for more than 25 years and I can assure anyone that the data in these reports will contain errors and inaccuracies.
By Kevin @ 08/14/08 05:40:19 PMreport abuse

how to fix my credit

mr.howard how can i go and fix my credit

By adrian mcleish @ 02/11/09 09:13:40 AMreport abuse

Just another abuse

As a long term diabetic (since age 4), I always been denied things others take for granted. When I graduated from engineering school no one would hire me because of the risks involved in hiring a diabetic. It turned out to be all the Harvard & other "B" educated MBA's causing the trouble. It makes you hope that these folks are brought up on charges when people die due to there awful work.

By Andy @ 02/06/09 12:07:08 PMreport abuse

Ingenix report

I have left my info. on the recorded line has anyone received their report back yet?
Thanks.

By Paul M @ 01/12/09 05:10:19 PMreport abuse

where's the info?

I went to both websites and couldn't find information on how to get my report. Come on, Clark--how could you leave that out?

By SMB @ 09/08/08 03:41:42 PMreport abuse

Health Credit Report and HIPAA

For Those Wondering About HIPAA Violations-
The HIPAA privacy regs specifically apply to "covered entities." Covered entities are 1-Health Plans (Health insurance companies, Medicare, Medicaid, etc.). 2-Health care Clearing Houses (Such as a biling service). 3- Health care providers (hospitals, clinics, etc.).
I don't think these PBMs fall under any of these 3 categories.

By Dale @ 08/18/08 11:33:55 AMreport abuse

Health Credit Report

So,how do we see our own report?

By Daniel @ 08/17/08 03:09:27 PMreport abuse

This will be a welcome addition to an employer's arsenal. Just one more reason to reject. Where does it end????

By Pam @ 08/17/08 01:44:30 PMreport abuse

This should come as no suprise, and as a pharmacist, I have been aware of this for years. In fact, my wife was prescribed a med for PMS that was also an SSRI antidepressant. I made her pay cash for it for this very reason.

And these are the insurance companies Clark thinks we will be able to negotiate with as individuals to get health care costs down???????

By butch robbins @ 08/16/08 01:23:46 PMreport abuse

Isn't this a violation HIPAA law?

By Josh @ 08/16/08 09:45:20 AMreport abuse

Health credit report

So - how do we see our own report?

By Ron @ 08/15/08 11:56:07 PMreport abuse

health credit report

Your employer based health insurance may not increase, but your car/homeowners/credit card rates just might increase. Potential employers might read these reports and decide not to hire. Good luck in trying to prove that

By mary @ 08/15/08 07:51:07 PMreport abuse

Employer based health insurance

If you get your health insurance thru the government or your employer this can't be used to deny you coverage or charge you more. Individual health insurance is where the problem is.

By MLJ @ 08/15/08 01:31:27 PMreport abuse

HIPPA Anyone

So all that paperwork, all the hassle that it takes to get your own records is sold to banks for purposes other than to treat you. Why is that not a violation of HIPAA?

By Nessy @ 08/14/08 10:06:00 PMreport abuse

Remember the movie Logon's Run. Before long if your over 30 you might as well be hunted down and shot. You will never be able to have anything because one stay in the hospital and you will loose it all. Health insurance is only for the heathly and young. The insurance companies want 0 risk. Your already screwed if you loose a job at 50.

By me @ 08/14/08 08:38:06 PMreport abuse

This is an example of data privacy being out of control, especially since the presumption is that these records are accurate.

I've worked in the IT industry for more than 25 years and I can assure anyone that the data in these reports will contain errors and inaccuracies.

By Kevin @ 08/14/08 05:40:19 PMreport abuse

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Aug 14, 2008 -- 200 million Americans have a health credit report

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