CPSC Pushes Hospitals to Share ER Records With Private Contractor, Sparking Privacy Debate

The Consumer Product Safety Commission is pressuring hospitals to hand over detailed, identifiable emergency-room records to a private contractor (Konza Health) for a nationwide data-collection program, targeting at least 100 hospitals by year-end. The move raises questions about the agency’s legal authority, patient privacy, and data protection, amid concerns that a private entity could access sensitive information and potentially misuse it. Some major health systems have declined or paused participation, while others are being pressured or seeking exemptions, and critics warn that the approach could dilute data quality and bypass required public notice and comment steps. The project marks a push beyond the existing, de-identified NEISS system and comes amid broader federal interest in expanding access to medical records.