OCR has updated its web site of reported breaches to now include the VA breach being reported in the news this week, as well as other breaches. Breaches not previously reported in the media or on this site are tagged with asterisks, below: Veterans Health Administration State: District of Columbia Business Associate Involved: Heritage Health…
Category: Health Data
New report on recent VA breaches identifies one contractor
Tom Spoth reports: More than 3,800 veterans had their personal information compromised last month in two data breaches that have led to renewed criticism of the Veterans Affairs Department’s data security. On April 22, an unencrypted laptop belonging to VA contractor Heritage Health Solutions was stolen from a vehicle, compromising the records of more than…
BCBS of Tenn. Breach: Lessons Learned
Howard Anderson writes: In the wake of an information breach affecting nearly 1 million people, executives at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee have many lessons to share and plenty of advice to offer. On Oct. 2, 2009, someone stole 57 unencrypted hard drives from servers at a call center the insurer had recently closed. So far,…
VA IT official defends work on data protection
Alice Lipowicz reports: Roger Baker, assistant secretary for information and technology at the Veterans Affairs Department, today defended the department’s efforts to protect against data theft and unauthorized access at a House hearing where the VA was criticized for two recent breaches of veterans’ personal data in Texas. Rep. Harry Mitchell (D-Ariz.), who chairs the…
B.C.: ‘Human Error’ Behind Mistake Where Patient Information Released
Laurena Weninger reports: Personal patient information sent out by Interior Health to those to whom it did not belong is being chalked up as “human error.” “This breach was caused by a setting on a new device not being correctly set, resulting in double appointment letters being stuffed into envelopes,” said a letter sent out…
VA breaches more numerous than we knew
Miami VA Healthcare System wasn’t the only VA center that experienced a breach involving paper records containing protected health information on January 19 of this year. According to OCR’s web site, VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System also experienced a breach involving paper records: VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System State: Colorado Approx. # of…