Michelle McNickle reports: The recent data breach at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI) and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Associates once again screams the message: Encryption, encryption, encryption!The provider has agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine to theDepartment of Health and Human Services (HHS), after allegations were made that Mass. Eye and Ear failed to…
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Cabinet for Health and Family Services Notifies Clients of Potential HIPAA Breach
Press release from the Kentucky (state) Cabinet for Health and Family Services: The Cabinet for Health and Family Services is informing approximately 2,500 clients by letter of a possible employee e-mail account breach that may have resulted in the unintentional release of information held by the Cabinet’s Department for Community Based Services (DCBS). In July,…
Massachusetts Eye and Ear responds to $1.5 million fine
In response to yesterday’s announcement that Massachusetts Eye and Ear would pay a $1.5 million fine and enter into a corrective action plan, MEE issued the following statement: “The review of Mass. Eye and Ear by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) was triggered by the hospital’s proactive self-reporting of a doctor’s…
New Texas privacy law adds more hassle, expense
John K. Wisniewski, the CEO/executive director of the Bexar County Medical Society, is not happy with Texas’s new law (HB 300) that goes into effect this month. The law goes beyond what HIPAA requires: The changes begin with a broadened definition of “covered entities,” to include almost anyone who handles protected health information. This may…
When you only look at part of the elephant: Data breach winners and losers by state
Erin McCann has an article on data breaches in the healthcare sector: So who are the biggest offenders by state? Generally, states with the highest population have the highest number of data breaches. For instance, California and Texas top the list, banking the highest number of data breaches in the nation. However, when population is…
Sheffield Council investigating breach involving confidential paperwork of mental health patients
The Sheffield Telegraph reports: Sheffield Council could be fined up to half a million pounds for breach of the Data Protection Act after confidential paperwork about mental health patients was found ‘blowing around’ a city centre street. Well yes, it’s pretty much true for any breach that the entity could be fined and the maximum…