Moving Toward Improved Personal Identification for all Manitobans A Proposal to Create a Convenient and Secure All-in-One Personal Identification Card (PIC) Share your views. Foreword This is your invitation to share your views on a joint proposal prepared by Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors and Manitoba Public Insurance regarding the creation of a new, all-in-one Personal Identification Card (PIC). If approved, the new PIC would offer Manitobans the convenience and security of a card that combines a driver’s licence, health card, photo ID and travel document, potentially eliminating the need to carry more than one card. Sharing your views will help us make this card better. This proposal builds on the successful partnership created with the merger of provincial driver licensing and vehicle registration with insurance operations at Manitoba Public Insurance in 2004. The purpose of the merger was to allow one-stop shopping for Manitoba drivers wishing to purchase, renew and manage their licences through Manitoba Public Insurance’s province-wide network of insurance brokers. Even better, combining the two organizations into one saved you money. We have begun to explore the idea of creating one official Registry (or Broker) of Identity to be solely responsible for authenticating and issuing identification cards in Manitoba using industry-proven policies, procedures and practices. We are interested in hearing what you, the public, think about Manitoba Public Insurance assuming this role as it relates to health services. If approved by the provincial government, the corporation would also be mandated to issue health cards. But, instead of the current paper cards, a person’s Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) would be placed on the back of the proposed all-in-one Personal Identification Card. This proposed initiative would eliminate duplication and allow Manitoba Public Insurance to build on its already successful track record in issuing secure, tamper-proof and fraud-resistant identification. We recognize that PHINs are key to Manitobans being able to access the health services they need. Consultation with those who receive and deliver health services is critical as we explore this concept. Manitobans also need to feel confident their personal health information is secure. Ensuring Manitobans are able to access health services where and when they need them, and that confidential health information remains private, will be a top priority. We hope you will take the time to share your views and insights as we continue to explore this proposal. Dan Guimond Karen Herd President and Chief Executive Officer Deputy Minister of Health, Healthy Living and Seniors 2 Personal Identification Card Introduction Almost everywhere we turn in life, carrying proper identification is a must, whether trying to secure an apartment, drive a car, board a plane, go cross-border shopping or obtain health care services. In fact, many people often think, why must I carry so many cards and are they all secure? Out of this necessity, Manitoba Public Insurance, in partnership with the provincial government, began exploring the idea of creating a convenient and secure, all-in-one Personal Identification Card (PIC) that, if approved, would replace the paper health card currently issued by Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors. The ultimate goal of linking the basic information on your health card onto the back of driver’s licences and other Manitoba Public Insurance-issued identification cards is to better protect cardholders against identity theft, forgery and fraud, ensure that private information stays confidential and make it easier for all Manitobans to gain access to identification. Offering two different card options At present, approximately 92 per cent of Manitoba adults already have either a driver’s licence or a Manitoba Public Insurance issued identification card. For Manitobans who drive, the new all-in-one PIC would offer: • A combined driver’s licence, photo ID, health and travel card Sample driver’s licence For minors, seniors and other non-drivers, the new all-in-one PIC would offer: • A combined photo ID, health and travel card Sample identification card Personal Identification Card 3 No matter which PIC you choose, the new all-in-one card could replace the need to carry more than one card, simplify the name/address updating process and present Manitobans with the ability to use either PIC for in-Canada travel or enhance it to enable travel to the United States (by land or water) without the expense of a passport. From a health services perspective, Manitobans would be able to present a tamper-proof, sturdy health card that leaves no doubt as to the proper identity of the cardholder. Share your views We recognize that access to health services is very important to Manitobans and we want to ensure that all perspectives on this potential change are taken into account. That’s why we’re inviting you to review this discussion paper and encouraging you to share your views with us. Once all responses are gathered, a summary report of findings will be prepared and provided to the Manitoba government for consideration. There are a number of ways you can share your views: • Send written submissions to Manitoba Public Insurance. • By email: cardconsultation@mpi.mb.ca • By post: Card Consultation Manitoba Public Insurance Box 6300 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4A4 • Participate in the survey on our website at mpi.mb.ca/consultations. You are also invited to visit an information display at your local shopping mall. The schedule is posted on our website at mpi.mb.ca/consultations. 4 Personal Identification Card Better Protecting Against Identity Theft, Forgery and Fraud Manitoba Public Insurance has the infrastructure and experience in issuing and managing highly-secure and tamper-proof identification, which could be built upon as part of this proposed initiative. Industry-proven identity management practices At present, approximately 92 per cent of Manitoba adults possess either a driver’s licence or an identification card issued by Manitoba Public Insurance. In fact, this has been an important part of the corporation’s service to Manitobans since it assumed these responsibilities following the merger with the Division of Driver and Vehicle Licensing in 2004. In proposing a new, all-in-one Personal Identification Card, Manitoba Public Insurance would build upon its existing infrastructure and industry-proven policies, procedures and practices to produce a new card that is highly secure, tamper-proof and not subject to either forgery or fraud. This is particularly important when it comes to the health card which is currently made of paper. Proposed security and advanced technology features would include: • Highly secure one-piece card construction; • Laser engraved photo and signature which can’t be altered without damaging the card; • Unique, embedded patterns which are difficult to counterfeit; • Photo ID for quick and easy verification of cardholder by health service providers. A more secure health card would also help curb a number of potential problems including identify theft as health care providers would be able to more easily identify cardholders based on their photo ID. This would ensure they are delivering the right services or medications to the right person. For the same reasons, it is anticipated that prescription drug abuse could also be curbed in the event a card is stolen or misused. Personal Identification Card 5 Ensuring Private Information Stays Confidential Every step necessary will be taken to ensure privacy concerns are addressed, including a full privacy assessment that will be reviewed by the Manitoba Ombudsman. To ensure that private information stays confidential, it is important to note that the only information that would be integrated with the Manitoba Public Insurance Registry of Identity database is what is currently depicted on a person’s health card. This information includes: • First and Last Name • Address • Gender • Six digit Registration Number • Nine digit Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) • Date of Birth • Coverage Date • Coverage information on dependants Of equal importance, no personal health records, Pharmacare-related information or detailed drug records would be shared with Manitoba Public Insurance. Conversely, no driver’s licence information or driver history would be shared with Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors. Privacy impact assessment to be reviewed by the Manitoba Ombudsman To ensure concerns over confidentiality and protection of personal information are addressed, Manitoba Public Insurance has already had preliminary discussions with the provincial Ombudsman to ensure that all records and data would be securely protected. As an additional step, if this initiative is approved, a full privacy impact assessment will be reviewed by the Manitoba Ombudsman to ensure it is compliant with privacy legislation. The placement of an individual’s PHIN would be on the back of the new PIC. In this location, Manitobans would be able to control who they share this information with. For instance, when asked to prove identification the PHIN on the back would not need to be shown. This was a very intentional decision by Manitoba Public Insurance and Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors to help safeguard the privacy of Manitobans. 6 Personal Identification Card Making the transition If the proposed Personal Identification Card (PIC) is approved, it will be important to introduce it in a manner that is convenient to Manitobans and does not affect the services they receive. Thorough analysis to be conducted Once the public consultation process is completed this fall, an in-depth analysis will be conducted to ensure the full range of implications is considered by the Manitoba government. If approved, a phased-in approach would likely occur over several years to coincide with the driver’s licence or identification card renewal cycle. A similar model has already been implemented in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. This will provide Manitoba Public Insurance and Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors with the opportunity to see what is working well elsewhere and identify where there are lessons to be learned. Easy to obtain To obtain your PIC, you would simply visit any Autopac agent in Manitoba if you: • Need to renew the photo on your driver’s licence or identification card; • Need to replace your driver’s licence or identification card; • Are applying for a driver’s licence; • Have only a paper health card and would like to apply for photo ID (appropriate identification required). Through the consultation process we will further explore options for obtaining a PIC for Manitobans who may not easily be able to access an Autopac agent. If you’re one of the 92 per cent of Manitoba adults who already have a Manitoba driver’s licence or an identification card, you will be eligible for a PIC free of charge. The PIC would also be free for Manitoba seniors 65 years and over, and for low-income and homeless Manitobans receiving support from the following agencies: • Income Assistance for Persons with Disabilities; • Employment and Income Assistance; • Manitoba Shelter Benefit for Families; • Child related Income Support; and • Manitoba Shelter Benefit for Seniors. The consultation process will further examine the areas of cost and accessibility to ensure the PIC is universally available to Manitobans and that ability to pay for a card is never an issue in accessing needed health services. Personal Identification Card 7 Accessing health care services As part of this proposal, no medical records or private health information other than the Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) would be stored on your Personal Identification Card (PIC). Secure validation system Under this new model, Manitobans would present their new PIC, as requested, at clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, etc. to verify provincial health insurance, just as they normally would have using the old paper health card. Using a secure, web-based software program, the health care provider could enter a patient’s nine-digit PHIN into the program and confirm the validity of the card and the cardholder by way of a digital photo that would appear on their screen. If the patient has dependent children, their individual PHIN numbers would also appear on the screen at the same time. Consultation with health care providers will allow for further discussion and exploration of this proposed concept. Accessing PHIN numbers from work or home Even though it’s envisioned that the PHIN of dependent children would not be printed on the PIC of their parent/guardian, for those needing to know their child’s PHIN when at work or home, they would be able to quickly look it up on the secure, Manitoba Public Insurance website. Parents/guardians without online access would be able to contact Manitoba Public Insurance by phone to get the information they need. The new system would also have the ability to recognize the relationship of a child to multiple parents vs. a single parent, thereby simplifying the provision of health services in extended family situations. This concept will be further explored based on feedback from families in the consultation process. PHIN lookup service PHIN lookup results Please select the “TRY ME” button to try the PHIN lookup service 8 Personal Identification Card Separate ID cards for children Under this proposal, children under 18 years of age would continue to be covered under their parent’s/ guardian’s PIC just like with today’s paper health card. When a minor is ready for their own PIC — perhaps because they need photo identification for travel or other purposes, or because they’re ready to start driving, their own PHIN would be printed on the back of that card. Other benefits • If you wish to be an organ donor, a “ ” insignia would be printed on your new PIC, if requested. • The new PIC would be accepted in exactly the same manner as the current paper health card, as proof of medical coverage when traveling outside of Manitoba It is important to note that aside from the PHIN, no actual health information or medical records would be stored on your Personal Identification Card. Equally, it is important to note that while Manitoba Public Insurance would become responsible for verifying the identity of anyone issued a PIC, the decision on whether someone should be provided provincial health coverage would remain the sole responsibility of Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors. Other positives outcomes could include preventing or reducing identify fraud and prevention of prescription drug abuse. Improving access to ID for low-income and homeless Manitobans We know there is a need to assist low-income and homeless Manitobans secure photo identification. We want to help. Sometimes, the very necessities of life like accessing health care, finding a job or renting an apartment are impossible without proper identification. As part of this proposal and to help improve access to services, qualifying low income and homeless Manitobans would be given free identification cards that combine both a photo ID and a health card. Personal Identification Card 9 Summary of Benefits The intent of this initiative is to move toward improved personal identification for all Manitobans. Convenient, all-in-one card If approved, the new Personal Identification Card (PIC), for drivers and non-drivers, would offer many benefits. Not only would it potentially reduce the number of cards Manitobans need to carry but it would also extend the hours and locations for service needed to obtain, renew and update (name and address etc.) cards through Manitoba Public Insurance’s province-wide network. Finally, it would give Manitobans the option to enhance the PIC to enable travel to the United States (by land or water) without the expense of a passport. Highly secure Advanced technology features, already part of Manitoba Public Insurance’s infrastructure and industryproven policies and practices, would allow production of a new card that is highly secure, tamper-proof and not subject to either forgery or fraud. This is very important when it comes to the health card which is currently made of paper and does not include your photo. Privacy protected To fully protect the privacy of Manitobans, a full privacy assessment will be reviewed by the Manitoba Ombudsmon, prior to implementation, to ensure full compliance with current legislation. As well, no personal health records would be shared with Manitoba Public Insurance and no driving records with Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors. The only information that would appear on the back of the new PIC is a Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) currently on paper health cards. Improved identification for all Manitobans This proposed initiative would allow all Manitobans to possess photo identification with free access for seniors (65+) as well as qualifying low-income and homeless individuals. This would help remove barriers and assist Manitoba’s most vulnerable in accessing important services like health care. Cost-effective By using existing infrastructure, technologies and processes already in place at Manitoba Public Insurance, this initiative would be cost-efficient in that Manitoba Health, Healthy Living and Seniors would not have to create its own systems and technology needed to provide tamper-proof health cards. 10 Personal Identification Card Questions to Consider 1. What do you consider the most important benefits of this proposed all-in-one Personal Identification Card? 2. Do you have any concerns about this proposed new concept? 3. Do you agree that it is time to replace health cards, currently made of paper, with ones that are durable, tamper-proof and secure? 4. Is there anything else you would like us to consider when it comes to this proposed initiative? Share your views • By completing the online survey: mpi.mb.ca/consultations • By email: cardconsultation@mpi.mb.ca • By post: Card Consultation Manitoba Public Insurance Box 6300 Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 4A4 Personal Identification Card 11