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HIPAA Compliant News Articles and Enforcement
Stolen UCSF Laptops Contained PHI of Research Participants
The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) has announced the burglary of a faculty member’s office involved the theft of a laptop computer contained the unencrypted, protected data of a number of individuals. The information included research and health information along with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) and medical insurance details. The burglary occurred in May,…
3200 Medical Records Exposed by (now former) Employee of Orlando Health
On July 3, 2015, Orlando Health reported a (now former) employee illegally accessed the medical records of up to 3,200 patients while employed at the hospital. The data breach was discovered on May 27, 2015, although it took just over a month for breach notices to be issued. The healthcare provider started sending notifications to…
Former CFO Sentenced to 23 Months in Federal Prison for False Meaningful Use Claims
A former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) has been sentenced to serve 23 months in federal prison after making false claims to receive payments under the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program. Joe White, 68, was the former CFO of Shelby Regional Medical Center and was responsible for overseeing the implementation of new Electronic Health…
Healthcare Providers Seek Protection from HIPAA Breaches
Phishing, malware & direct attacks by hackers are on the increase and employees are abusing data access rights: Any organization required to collect, store or use Protected Health Information (PHI) is likely to suffer a data breach. It is just a matter of when that breach will occur. Even when healthcare providers abide by HIPAA…
Seven Charged in North Texas As Part Of Largest National Medicare Fraud Takedown In History
USDOJ: US Attorney’s Office – Northern District of Texas North Texas Defendants Owned and Operated Home Health Companies DALLAS – Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell announced today a nationwide sweep led by the Medicare Fraud Strike Force in 17 districts, resulting in charges…
27 Year Sentence Issued for PHI Theft and Fraud
Violations of HIPAA Privacy Rule carry stiff sentences, with up to 10 years in jail for theft of PHI for personal gain; however using stolen data to commit fraud can carry far stiffer penalties as James Lee Cobb, III recently discovered. Florida Middle District Judge, Charlene Honeywell, recently passed a sentence of 27 years for…
Hospital Employee Indicted for Stealing Personal Information of More than 12,000 Patients
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., today announced the indictment of eight individuals, including a Montefiore Medical Center employee, for stealing and using patients’ personal identifying information to make thousands of dollars in purchases at department stores and retailers in Manhattan. The defendants are charged in New York State Supreme Court with varying counts…
Billing Business Associate Exceeds Breach Notification Period by 7 Months
A payment processing Business Associate (BA) of North Shore-LIJ Health System – Global Care Delivery (GCD) – has reported the theft of five laptop computers; four of which are believed to have contained the Protected Health Information (PHI) of approximately 18,000 patients. The theft took place at GCD’s offices in Texas on or before September…
Former President of Riverside General Hospital Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison in $158 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme
Former President of Riverside General Hospital Sentenced to 45 Years in Prison in $158 Million Medicare Fraud Scheme Operator of Psychiatric Facility Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison, and Owner of Group Home Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison The former president of a Houston hospital, his son and a co-conspirator were sentenced today to…