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MEDICAL PRIVACY
Social Security Numbers
The Federal Privacy Act of 1974 (Public
law 93-579)
- 5 U.S. Code Section 552a
- Enacted effective September 27,
1975
Section 7:
"It shall be unlawful for any Federal, State or local
government agency to deny to any individual any right, benefit, or
privilege provided by law because of such individual's refusal to
disclose his social security account number."
"The provisions of paragraph 1 shall not apply with respect to
--A) any disclosure which is required by Federal statute, or B)
the disclosure of a social secuity number to any Federal, State,
or local agency maintaining a system of records in existence and
operating before January 1, 1975, if such disclosure was required
under statute or regulation adopted prior to such date to verify
the identity of an individual."
"Any Federal, State, or local government agency which requests
an idividual to disclose his social security account number shall
inform that individual whether that disclosure is mandatory or
voluntary, by what statutory or other authority such number is
solicited, and what uses will be made of it."
Private Industry Use
The following text is taken directly from the
Social Security Administration
website:
"Private industry (other than your employer) and some
organizations use
Social Security numbers to keep records.
If someone asks for your number, you can refuse to give it to
them.
However, your purchase or service may be denied.
Federal law does not require or prohibit this use of the
number. Giving
your Social Security number is a personal matter between you
and the
person who asks for it. But, you should know that no one can
get
information from your Social Security record just because he
or she
knows your number."
Compilation
of Social Security Laws - updated through January 1, 1999
History of
Social Security Numbers
Minnesota Legislators attempt to gather
SSNs from school children
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Citizens' Council on Health Care
1954 University Avenue West, Suite 8, St. Paul, MN 55104
Phone: 651.646.8935 / Fax: 651.646.0100, e-mail
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