Group Health Incorporated (GHI), an Emblem Health company, is notifying members of a breach due to exposure of PHI on mailing labels. The mailing error occurred between October 3 and October 14, and was discovered on October 13. They explain: Earlier this month, GHI mailed you a copy of your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Evidence of…
Category: Health Data
Horizon says privacy breach could affect up to 170K N.J. customers
Susan K. Livio reports that a vendor error has affected as many as 170,000 BCBS members in New Jersey: Some benefit letters mailed to as many as 170,000 Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey customers over a recent three-day period included the names, policy numbers and the physician information of other policy holders — a…
Woman accuses CAMC of confidentiality breach with infant’s information
Kyla Asbury reports: A woman is suing Charleston Area Medical Center after she claims it breached its duty of confidentiality and provided her infant’s private medical information to a third party. In late 2014, Z.D. was a patient in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at CAMC and Andrekia Lawton was informed by an acquaintance of…
Ca: 197 patient health records ‘inappropriately accessed’ by provincial employee — for birthday cards
Bryce Hoye reports: A former government employee wasn’t up to anything nefarious when she peeked at the private health records and home addresses of Manitoba patients — she just wanted to know where to send her love and birthday wishes. A spokesperson with Manitoba Health said an internal investigation is underway after 197 patient health records were “inappropriately accessed”…
TX: Austin Pulmonary Consultants notifies patients after new cleaners throw out records meant for shredding
It’s been a while since I’ve seen any reports of cleaning contractors accidentally disposing of patient records intended for shredding, but a recent report by Austin Pulmonary Consultants may be a useful reminder that all new cleaning vendors or contractors need to ensure their staff knows what is for disposal and what is for shredding. In…
AU: Human Services admits privacy breach.
Paris Cowan reports: The Department of Human Services has admitted it uploaded sensitive Medicare claims records to the wrong recipient’s electronic health records 86 times in the 12 months to 30 June 2016. DHS, which is responsible for the operation of the Medicare medical rebate scheme, is obliged under law to report any data breaches…