CACHI’s Statement on the Federal Use of Medi-Cal Data and Member Privacy
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has released an important statement in response to reports that federal agencies may have accessed personal Medi-Cal data, potentially compromising the privacy of 15 million Californians.
As a statewide network committed to health equity, CACHI echoes DHCS’s concerns and reiterates: Trust between communities and health systems is already fragile, especially for immigrants, low-income families, and those harmed by past surveillance or exclusion.
The Accountable Communities for Health (ACHs) in our network—alongside other community-based health collaboratives—exist, in no small part, to rebuild and protect that trust. They are the frontlines of health services outreach, access, and accountability.
On behalf of CACHI and the ACH network, we support DHCS’s commitment to transparency, privacy, and ensuring that all Californians, regardless of immigration status, can access care safely, privately, and without fear. We also thank DHCS for their efforts to understand the situation and keep our sector and affected communities informed.
Californians deserve safety and care, not surveillance.
