IDs in the US are the primary way you have to do most any official business with the state (individual state, not federal). It's also how businesses ID you, Epic is an electronic health record system and ID is just one of documents needed to deal with Medicaid and heath insurance. Every time you get a job there is a form called the I9 used to identify that you are a US citizen or are authorized to work. IDs are also kept in record when doing background checks. These used to be done physically but they are all digital now so an ID is likely stored somewhere. I'm more fascinated as to why it seems controversial that an ID is presented and might kept somewhere, in the US it's pretty normal and understood that an ID itself while unpleasant to be leaked, is of little consequence and presents not much more info than if you used a real name and address to buy something on Amazon. Your SSN/TIN is where real consequences are but that's only ever presented seldomly relating to tax or income.

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