Insurers respond to loss of health-plan data

Keystone Mercy Health Plan and AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan - the two affiliated insurers that lost a portable computer drive containing sensitive client information - make no apology for the necessity of being able to have access to members' health information at community health fairs.

"By having this information readily available, we are able to save lives," said Donna Burtanger, vice president of communications for the firms.

Officials realized Sept. 20 that a portable drive containing the records of 285,691 Medicaid clients was missing.