Jill Coley reports: Medical records belonging to state Medicaid patients have gone electronic. In July, the South Carolina Health Information Exchange made 800,000 medical histories of disabled and poor residents available to physicians, clinics and hospitals. Privacy advocates urge caution. “Medical privacy for many people is one of the most important forms of privacy,” said…
Author: Dissent
Rapper DMX arrested again
In his fourth run-in with Maricopa County deputies within a year, rapper DMX faces charges of theft of services and identity theft for trying to avoid paying $7,500 in medical bills from Scottsdale’s Mayo Clinic in April, officials said. […] In April, the 37-year-old rapper went for treatment at Scottsdale’s Mayo Clinic. He stayed nine…
Laptop theft at Cleveland Clinic could contain patient data
Jesse Tinsley reports: The Cleveland Clinic is investigating the theft of a laptop computer that could contain patient medical records. “We regret the potential breach of confidentiality due to the theft of a computer,” Clinic officials said in a written statement issued Friday. “At this time we cannot confirm that any information was compromised.” Clinic…
Former anesthesiologist arrested on four charges
Elisa Glushefski reports: A former Prince William Hospital anesthesiologist was arrested on four criminal charges Thursday—two weeks after authorities received a call of suspicious findings in a doctor’s bunkroom, police said Friday. Dr. Carlos Ocampo, 38, of 5438 Long Boat Court in Fairfax, turned himself in to police Thursday and was charged with prescription fraud,…
FL: Hospital Worker Stole Identity
A Central Florida hospital worker was arrested Friday on suspicion of using medical records to steal a patient’s identity. Joan Allison Thompson, 30, of Rockledge, faces four counts of criminal use of personal identification, two counts of fraudulent use of a credit card, four counts of uttering a forged instrument and one count of scheme…
HHS, Providence Health & Services Agree on Corrective Action Plan
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has entered into a resolution agreement with Seattle-based Providence Health & Services (Providence) to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. In the agreement, Providence agrees to pay $100,000 and implement a detailed corrective action…