Tim McGlone reports: Authorities say they stopped a local identity theft ring involving an emergency room clerk who stole patient data, a civic league official who is accused of using his neighbors’ personal information and two car salesmen accused of orchestrating the scam. The scheme involved using personal information from unknowing individuals in...
Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) expects soon to introduce new health information technology legislation in the U.S. House. The bill would build on the proposed PRO(TECH)T Act, H.R. 6357, from the Energy and Commerce Committee and already under House consideration. Stark is chair of the Ways and Means health subcommittee. The new legislation would retain...
TEESDALE is at the centre of the latest data loss scandal after a memory stick containing information on hundreds of NHS mental health patients was found by a member of the public in a Barnard Castle street. The Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Trust, whose jurisdiction Teesdale falls within, said the ‘serious breach of...
James Craven reports: As more seniors enter nursing homes, especially those with cognitive impairments, and depend on others for their basic needs and security, those who prey on them are always looking for access. Southington brothers James and Jamelle Byrd are the chief suspects in a scheme to take identification materials from patients at...
Maureen McKinney reports: Medical identity theft accounts for about 3 percent of the 9 million cases of identity theft that occur in the United States annually. But detection often proves difficult because consumers lack regular access to their medical information, and records containing false identity information spread fast and wide via electronic billing and...
A federal government office will investigate the management of disused medical files in South Australia after concerns were raised about a large number of private medical records at a rented home in Adelaide. The former doctor who lives at the house is mentally ill and is about to move out of the house. The...
Steve Nowottny reports: NHS bosses are repeatedly failing to take action against staff who lose personal records, breach patient confidentiality or access patient records without authorisation, a Pulse investigation reveals. Findings obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from 47 PCTs, hospital trusts and NHS authorities show little or no action is being taken...
According to a letter sent to the Maryland Attorney General’s office by Elizabeth Shughrue, Privacy and Compliance Manager for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield: On July 18, 2008, the Privacy Office of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) was advised of a security breach by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The Blue Cross Blue Shield...
Andrew Napier reports: A SAFE containing computer back-up tapes which hold personal information about thousands of patients registered at a Winchester has been stolen during a burglary. The safe – containing data on 15,396 patients -was taken in a raid on St Paul’s Surgery last Saturday. Hampshire Primary Care Trust has reassured patients that...
The Health IT Now! Coalition announced new support and momentum for health IT legislation in a press conference today on Capitol Hill, featuring former Representative Nancy Johnson and coalition members from around the country. With time running out to pass a bill before Congress adjourns for the elections, the coalition unveiled a joint letter...