Canadian Press reports: The illegal release of personal information about nearly five million British Columbians by Health Ministry staff was a massive breach, says the province’s privacy commissioner, who has released 11 recommendations to protect the public. Elizabeth Denham conducted an investigation after government employees downloaded large amounts of personal health data onto unencrypted flash…
Category: Health Data
Iowa DHS discloses that backup tape with PHI of former patients at Mental Health Institute and state employees is missing
Rod Boshart reports: Iowa Department of Human Services officials issued an alert Wednesday to former patients at the Mental Health Institute in Independence and hundreds of state employees there and at other state facilities concerning a possible breach of their confidential information. Officials say the information was stored on a backup computer tape that went…
Man who stole Baptist Health patient information sentenced to prison
Brian Bandell reports: A man who stole patient information from Baptist Health South Florida as part of a tax fraud scheme has been sentenced to prison. Miami resident Cristobal Raul Puig was sentenced to 31 months in federal prison. He previously pleaded guilty to possessing 15 or more Social Security numbers of other people. According…
Foundations Recovery Network notifying patients after a laptop with PHI was stolen from an employee's car
Foundations Recovery Network sent out this letter to patients last week: I am writing on behalf of Foundations Recovery Network to inform you of a recent privacy incident concerning your personal information. On Saturday, June 15 th, one of our employees informed us that she had been the victim of a burglary during the early…
One hour breach notification mandate proposed regarding Obamacare health exchanges
Joseph J. Lazzarotti writes: Most breach notification mandates require a notice be provided without unreasonable delay. In some cases, such as under HIPAA, the same standard applies but also with an outside date to provide the notice – 60 days. Proposed regulations under the Affordable Care Act would require notification to the Department of Health…
OR: Break-in at North Lincoln County Community Health Center Clinic
Here’s one I missed last week, from The NEWSGuard: “It feels really not good and it is a violating feeling to have someone break into your clinic,” said Gretchen Gantz, HIPAA Privacy and Security Officer for Lincoln County Health and Human Services. Her statement follows the break-in of the North Lincoln County Community Health Center…