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…
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HHS update to breach tool shows laptop theft is not a thing of the past, Part 1
HHIS updated its breach tool this week, adding a baker’s dozen of incidents. Significantly, 6 of the 13 involved stolen laptops while 3 others involved theft or loss of electronic devices. Two of the 13 incidents were already known through either media coverage or reports to a state’s attorney general. In both cases, HHS’s breach…
Does being coy with the media pay or does the lack of transparency hurt reputation more?
Personally, I detest it when entities won’t disclose any many people were notified or affected by a breach. It’s one of the few times that I think the “nothing to hide” argument applies. When it comes to healthcare sector breaches affecting more than 500, refusal to disclose to the media makes even less sense to…
Did Samaritan Hospital violate HIPAA?
Over on Healthcare IT News, Erin McCann has a bit more on the Samaritan Hospital breach I blogged about yesterday. I found some of her assertions interesting, and because I’m not sure I agree with her on her reading of HIPAA’s requirements, thought I would discuss them here. Erin bases most of her commentary on…
Nurse posing with corpse sparks outrage
What is the matter with some healthcare professionals? AFP reports on this case from Switzerland: A nurse in Switzerland who posted pictures of herself on Facebook sitting next to the corpse of an old woman is coming under fire from her profession, while prosecutors say they have launched an investigation. Saint Gallen’s regional prosecutors said…
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…