Sometimes you think your PHI have escaped a ransomware attack…. but they may not have as this notification from Northwest Rheumatology reminds us. On April 10, 2017, Northwest Rheumatology (“NW Rheumatology”) experienced a ransomware incident which left a limited portion of its computer system encrypted and inaccessible. NW Rheumatology immediately contacted its computer security vendor…
Category: Health Data
Couple who stole Parkland, Baylor patient names to bill Medicare get federal prison time
Almost six years after I first reported on this breach and almost three years after they pleaded guilty, a Texas couple has been sentenced to prison. Kevin Krause reports: A Dallas company enticed patients to use Medicare-funded home health care they didn’t need by giving them grocery gift cards and cash, federal prosecutors say. Dallas Home Health Care…
Hackers Target the Bottom Line: Business Operations and Earnings
Derek Borchardt and Craig A. Newman of Patterson Belknap write: Over the past several years, we have witnessed a fundamental shift in orchestrated cyber-attacks from hacking credit card data and healthcare information to targeting businesses, their operations and bottom lines. Last month, companies across the globe were hit by the so-called “Petya” ransomware attack, as…
No one taking responsibility for exposed medical records at Forest Hill
Barb Ickes reports: More than six weeks have passed since notice was given: Children were breaking into a vacant nursing home in East Moline and stealing people’s medical records. Several city officials, including police and the mayor, were notified immediately. The Illinois Attorney General was contacted. Ditto for the Illinois Department of Public Health and…
VA: Local CPA wants medical faxes to stop
Dan Casey reports: Richard Beason’s fax machine works pretty hard, spitting out documents regularly. One that came in July 13 was from a Roanoke cardiology office. He read part of that to me over the phone. “Patient has been complaining of fatigue and daytime somnolence,” it reads. “We have obtained nocturnal pulse oximetry.” […] Beason…
Wilmington doctor indicted on insurance fraud and identity theft charges
Esteban Parra reports: A Wilmington psychiatrist – a former Delaware Medical Board officer – has been indicted on charges he submitted more than $100,000 in insurance claims over a two-year period for visits that did not occur. To facilitate this fraud, Dr. Karl McIntosh used his patients’ personal identifying information without their consent, according to the state Department…