Dom Nicastro writes: Major breaches of patient information in 2009 break down into three types: snoopers, hackers, and those involving large quantities of data. So let’s examine the top breaches from the past year and find out what facilities can do to prevent similar problems. Read more on HealthLeadersMedia.com
Author: Dissent
Four men arrested in PA on ID theft charges
The Associated Press reports that four men have been arrested and charged in Pennsylvania with running a multistate identity theft operation. Bensalem police say they recovered documents — including licenses and credit cards — listing the names of about 100 victims when they made the arrests Monday. Police charged 31-year-old Earl Johnson, 30-year-old Armone Stanley,…
HHS wants contractor to test privacy of 'anonymous' data
Alice Lipowicz reports: Can personal medical data that has been stripped of its identifiers to protect privacy later be used to identify a specific person? That is the question that the Health and Human Services Department is hoping a research contractor can answer. HHS intends to hire a contractor to demonstrate either the “ability or…
CA: ID theft ringleader sentenced in Fresno
Russell Clemings reports: The alleged leader of a far-flung identity theft ring was sentenced today to 70 months in federal prison and ordered to pay more than $91,000 in restitution to some 50 victims. Alfred Darnell Ford was accused of running a network of accomplices who used stolen credit cards and other information to buy…
Medical/Healthcare Privacy and Fraud Outlook for 2010
Eduard F. Goodman, J.D., LL.M., CIPP writes: You may not be aware of this, but medical-related fraud and identity theft are growing problems in America. With the exploding cost of healthcare, increasing bureaucratic administrative healthcare systems, and a large, aging Baby Boomer population requiring increased medical care, it would seem that we are entering into…
Mass. Eye and Ear Alerts Patients to Data Breach
On Nov. 30, 2009 the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary discovered that a patient’s credit card had been inappropriately used on Nov. 11 and 12 by a Mass. Eye and Ear employee. Mass. Eye and Ear conducted an investigation and determined that two employees were involved, both of whom were terminated. We reported this situation…