Megan Twohey reports: A private program that has long kept secret watch over Illinois doctors receiving substance-abuse treatment is now monitoring health care professionals with sexual misconduct violations — including some convicted of crimes. Begun several decades ago by the state’s doctors’ lobby, the Illinois Professionals Health Program has drawn criticism for the off-the-books nature…
FL: Locals fall victim to credit card fraud
Chris Segal reports: When credit card bills from holiday shopping sprees arrive, consumers are encouraged to double-check charges, as local fraud claims are spiking. Bay County sheriff’s investigators on Monday reported a string of credit card fraud claims from customers of local banking institutions. Customers with Visa cards from Innovations Federal Credit Union and Tyndall…
American Honda Motor Co – Customer Info Exposed
Rafal Los writes: Alright, so Honda’s web sites didn’t actually get hacked, but like McDonalds they are on the receiving end of a lump of coal in their stocking for Christmas. A post on Honda’s “Piloteers.org” website for Honda Pilot owners hints at a data breach at a vendor maintaining a mailing list for customer of My Acura…
Mercy says former hospital patient and employee records left unsecured
Julie McKinnon reports: Mercy Wednesday revealed that unsecured copies of parts of more than 1,000 patient medical and employee records were left at the former Riverside Hospital after the facility was sold in 2003, although it does not appear they were inappropriately used. The hospital system was notified in late November about the files that…
MA: New drug law will track more prescriptions
Sarah Favot and Caroline Hailey report on prescription monitoring in Massachusetts: Massachusetts residents face a new routine when they pick up certain prescription drugs at the pharmacy on Jan. 1. Under a law passed last summer, they will have to show a driver’s license or another approved ID before the druggist can give them prescriptions…
Privacy groups ask FTC to probe drug companies' online practices
Pamela Lewis Dolan reports: Four privacy advocacy groups have filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, asking it to investigate the online marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies. The Center for Digital Democracy, Consumer Watchdog, the U.S. Public Interest Research Groups and the World Privacy Forum filed a 144-page complaint in late November alleging that…