Medicare portal database exposed Social Security numbers: Reports

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unintentionally published Social Security data for at least 100 health providers, according to multiple outlets. The department took down its National Provider Directory after The Washington Post flagged the information to CMS officials. The webpage serves to connect seniors with healthcare professionals, and it includes data about more than 7 million providers. The Hill has reached out to CMS for comment. A CMS spokesperson told the Post that the issue stems from providers entering their Social Security data in the incorrect place on the form. “The agency has taken steps to address it promptly and reinforce safeguards around data submission and validation,” CMS said in a statement to the outlet. Since the directory’s launch last year, there have been several issues with the information included in this database, including misidentifying the healthcare plans covered under certain providers. The project is part of a broader effort led by the acting administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), Amy Gleason, to connect the public with healthcare providers.