The Credit Union National Association is pushing for change – and although there will be pushback from the merchant sector, a lot of what CUNA is pushing for is consistent with what privacy advocates want: Data security is a critical issue and the U.S. Congress should consider legislative changes to protect consumers, such as requiring…
Author: Dissent
Tennessee mailing error results in employees canceling insurance and scrambling to monitor their credit
AP reports: The state of Tennessee is offering credit protection to nearly 2,000 employees who canceled their health or dental insurance after officials mailed out their personal information in October. Each mailing included a certificate containing the information of the recipient and three other letters aimed at other members of the plan. State officials say…
AR: PCSSD Employees Could Be Victims of ID Theft
Heather Crawford reports: Former and current Pulaski County Special School District employees are being urged to keep a close eye on their financial accounts. A letter from the district went out Friday informing them their confidential records, including name and social security numbers, may have been compromised. A district spokeswoman says a laptop containing the…
Contra Costa County warns of patient privacy breach
Contra Costa County officials mailed out notices Friday warning that the names of residents who owed money to the county health department were inadvertently published in a public document, violating patient privacy. The names were published in a report to the Board of Supervisors dated July 27, 2010. It was generated by the County’s Office…
"It's for the children," Friday edition
I’m nonpartisan, and I hate mixing politics and medical privacy on my blog, but some times it seems unavoidable. Tanya Somanader of liberal organization Think Progress reports: Republican lawmakers across the country are pushing the marginalization of low-income Americans by insisting they take a drug test before receiving federal aid. Joining Arizona, Indiana, Florida, Missouri,…
Hospital janitor and girlfriend charged with stealing patients' identities
Naomi Martin reports: Federal prosecutors charged a Westwego couple Friday with stealing the identities of hospital patients to finance thousands of dollars’ worth of purchases, including an $800 diamond ring and a 42-inch plasma television, according to court documents filed by the U.S. Attorney’s office. Clyde Washington, 50, allegedly stole patient documents while employed as…