Steve Orr has a follow-up on the Excellus BlueCross BlueShield data breach that was disclosed in September, but the scant details still available will doubtless continue to frustrate those who want to know how the breach occurred and why it took almost 20 months for Excellus to detect it. And the available facts serve as…
Category: Health Data
VA: Brothers Sentenced for Leading Bank Fraud and ID Theft Scheme
Ray Ekobena, 27, of Alexandria, and his brother, Stefan Ekobena, 24, of Atlanta, were sentenced today for leading a five-year check fraud and identity theft conspiracy. Co-conspirator Rodney Hardy, 25, of Hyattsville, Maryland, was also sentenced today for his role in the scheme. According to statements of fact filed with the plea agreements, Ray Ekobena…
FL: Three People Sentenced in Tax Refund Fraud Scheme That Used Patient Data
There’s a follow-up to a breach previously noted on this site. Jermaine Winters, 39, of Coleman, Florida, Senora Cotton, 24, of Chipley, Florida, and Rosetta Presley, 23, of Chipley, Florida, were sentenced today for conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft in connection with the electronic filing of false federal income…
CT AG Jepsen, Hartford Hospital, Contractor Reach Agreement Resolving Investigation into Breach of Unencrypted Patient Information
There’s an update to a breach that I previously noted in 2012, and it reinforces the importance of your business associate contracts and the importance of monitoring them if you’re a HIPAA-covered entity: Hartford Hospital and the EMC Corporation will pay $90,000 and have agreed to institute additional training and control measures to resolve an…
Huntington Medical Research Institutes discloses two HIPAA breaches in one-month period
HIPAA Journal reports: Nonprofit biomedical research company Huntington Medical Research Institutes (HMRI) has announced two HIPAA breaches in the space of a month: One involving the improper disposal of records, the other an alleged theft of patient data by a former employee. The insider breach reportedly impacted 4,300 patients. Read more on HIPAA Journal. The…
Ca: Simcoe nurse suspended by College of Nurses over privacy breach at Norfolk General Hospital
Monte Sonnenberg has a follow-up to a breach I commented on back in 2013: A Simcoe nurse fired from Norfolk General Hospital for inappropriately looking at medical records says she has been made “a scapegoat” for deficient management practices by her former employer. Nancy Oliveira said she did nothing that other nurses at NGH were not…