Mainstream news is all over the breach involving the missing flash drive containing 280,000 Medicaid members’ PHI first reported yesterday. Jane M. Von Bergen follows up on her previous report with reactions from privacy advocates and the silence of the companies involved. Keystone Mercy Health Plan and AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan are jointly owned by…
Category: Health Data
Singin' the HIPAA Blues in Arkansas
The Associated Press reports: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences says a digital camera containing photos of newborn babies was apparently stolen out of a nurse’s lab coat. UAMS says the camera had photographs of some babies born at the hospital between July and October. The photos also contained labels with the baby and…
Canadian Medical Journal lashes out at Veterans Affairs over privacy leaks
The Canadian Medical Association Journal has lashed out at Veterans Affairs Canada over the way it handles medical records. The group published an editorial today demanding the federal government take immediate steps to restore confidence in the department after the privacy commissioner found the records of outspoken critic Sean Bruyea were used to smear him….
Health insurers say data on 280,000 Pennsylvania clients may be compromised
Jane M. Von Bergen reports: Keystone Mercy Health Plan and AmeriHealth Mercy Health Plan said Tuesday that a portable computer drive containing the names, addresses, and health information of 280,000 Medicaid members in Pennsylvania has been lost. The affiliated companies together insure 400,000 people on medical assistance in Pennsylvania. The companies said the portable computer…
How not to get a job: Computer consultant accused of hacking into Houston Healthcare database
Becky Purser reports: A 21-year-old computer consultant is accused of hacking into Houston Healthcare’s database. Christopher Stewart Wheeler of Warner Robins was charged with one count of theft by taking, four counts of computer theft and five counts of computer invasion of privacy, according to the Houston County District Attorney’s Office website. District Attorney Rabb…
HHS site update reveals three previously unreported breaches
The most recent update of HHS’s breach tool website reveals three breaches we didn’t know about and one breach that had previously been reported in the media: The Utah Department of Health recently reported the Utah Department of Workforce Services incident involving access to and disclosure of 1298 immigrants’ information. The incident was covered on…