A report released yesterday by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Department of Veterans Affairs indicates that they substantiated allegations that the VA was routinely transmitting sensitive information, including PII, PHI, and internal network routing information, over an unencrypted telecom carrier network. The Office of Information and Technology (OIT) disputes their findings,…
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HIPAA Omnibus: Gaps In Privacy?
Although the HIPAA Omnibus Rule is a step in the right direction for protecting health information, the regulation still leaves large privacy gaps, says patient advocate Deborah Peel, M.D. “HIPAA Omnibus finally affirmed that states can pass laws that are tougher than HIPAA, and that’s really good news because HIPAA is so full of flaws and defects that…
Verizon to Introduce Secure E-Mails for Medical Records
Alex Nussbaum reports: Verizon Communications Inc. (VZ), the second-biggest U.S. telephone company, will introduce the first national service enabling doctors to securely exchange medical records no matter what computer system they use. The service will begin tomorrow following testing among about a dozen U.S. hospital systems and other clients. Under the program, medical providers who…
Oral Argument on DNA Searches Provides Scary Glimpse Into the Future of Privacy
Hanni Fakhoury of EFF writes: The Supreme Court recently heard oral argument in Maryland v. King, a case considering the constitutionality of warrantless DNA collection from arrestees. We’ve long warned about theprivacy problems with the rise of cheap, easy and fast blanket DNA collection, and filed anamicus brief with the Court urging it to hold the government can only obtain this sensitive genetic material…
Not-So-Confidential HIV Testing
If people are not being given full information as to what happens to sensitive information and cannot have it removed, that’s concerning. Read the following report and see if you think Michigan has adequate data and confidentiality protections in place. Todd Heywood writes: Since 2003, the Michigan Department of Community Health has been secretly collecting…
For health data, big isn't better
Deven McGraw of CDT expresses their concern over an executive proposal to have the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) create a centralized database of health insurance claims: Under the law, the multi-state plans are to supplement state-based insurance plans, with the goal of ensuring there is true competition in all markets. OPM, which currently administers…