After an eight-month investigation prompted by an NBC Bay Area report, local authorities arrested and extradited Gary Wayne Bogle, charging him with 10 felony counts of false impersonation for using his brother’s identity to receive medical treatment. Read the report by Vicky Nguyen and David Paredes on NBC Bay Area. Related: Ponemon Fifth Annual Study on Medical Identity Theft
Category: Health Data
UK: ICO fines HIV support network for repeated e-mail gaffes exposing individuals’ names
The Information Commissioner’s Office has fined the Bloomsbury Patient Network (BPN) after it inadvertently revealed the identities of HIV patients on two occasions due to placing all addresses for a newsletter distribution list in the “to” field instead of the “bcc” field. BPN was fined £250, which may seem somewhat mild considering the potential embarrassment to individuals….
Hospitals Aren’t the Only Ones Bleeding Health Records
Kaveh Waddell reports on an issue near and dear to my heart: not all entities that collect or store health information are HIPAA-covered entities. Earlier this year, as one example, we saw the Systema Software leak that impacted numerous firms with a wealth of workers compensation claims. And last year, we saw many employees’ wellness data breached…
Meanwhile, back at the VA….
The VA’s monthly report to Congress for November has been released, and we’re still seeing low-tech breaches involving papers being left where they shouldn’t be left. Exhibit A, from the VA in Boston: An 11-page clinic list was found in a public bathroom in a heavily trafficked area. The list had been printed on November 4,…
Shannen Doherty: My Ex-Manager Tricked SAG Into Revealing Medical Information (Exclusive Audio)
Eriq Gardner reports: When Tanner Mainstain employee Kimberly Gabay was asked her name, she responded, “Shannen Doherty.” The firm also was able to provide the actress’ social security number. Shannen Doherty’s lawsuit against her former business management firm was stunning enough for the revelation that the Beverly Hills, 90210 star has breast cancer, but in…
University of Washington Medicine Pays $750,000 to Settle HHS Charges Relating to Organization-Wide Risk Assessment
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this press release announcing that U. of Washington Medicine has settled charges it potentially violated HIPAA’s Security Rule. The investigation stemmed from an incident reported on this site in November, 2013. The University of Washington Medicine (UWM) has agreed to settle charges that it potentially violated the…