President Obamas proposed fiscal 2013 budget calls for an overall 8 percent increase in spending for the Department of Health and Human Services, but a 5 percent cut in spending for the unit that enforces HIPAA
via Budget Cuts Would Hit HIPAA Enforcer.
OCR reported a total of 364 such breaches, up from 345 in its previous post in October. The 364 breaches have impacted 18,190,451 persons in breaches reported by covered entities from September 22, 2009—the day prior to the effective date of the Breach Notification Rule—to September 14, 2011
via HIPAA.com – HITECH Act Breached Individuals Skyrocket in Latest OCR Web Site Posting.
Prosecutors say 35-year-old Paul C. Pepala of Monroeville disclosed the names and social security numbers of patients at Shadyside Hospital. Other people then used that information to file false tax returns that sought refunds.
via W. Pa. man sentenced for privacy law violation – Timesonline.com: State:.
All 4.9 million TRICARE military health plan beneficiaries that were affected by a recent data breach will be notified by mail, but they won’t be offered free credit monitoring services.
via TRICARE Breach Notification in Works.
The PHR Model Privacy Notice is designed to be a standardized template that a web-based PHR company can use to succinctly inform consumers about its privacy and security policies.
via HealthIT.hhs.gov: PHR Model Privacy Notice.
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius has appointed Leon Rodriguez as the director of the Office for Civil Rights. Among other duties, OCR enforces the HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification rules.
via Rodriguez to Lead HHS Office for Civil Rights.
A medical privacy breach led to the public posting on a commercial Web site of data for 20,000 emergency room patients at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., including names and diagnosis codes, the hospital has confirmed. The information stayed online for nearly a year.
via Stanford Hospital Patients’ Private Data Was Posted Online – NYTimes.com.
A Niagara Falls, Ontario man is facing charged he lied to government authorities and violated HIPAA laws by dumping medical records into a dumpster behind the Erie County Auto Bureau Office in Cheektowaga
via Man charged after medical records found | WIVB.com.
“I don’t know what HIPAA stands for, but I believe in it and I practice it,” Manning said, joking, referring to the federal law protecting medical privacy. “So, uh, I’ll leave it at that.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/30/sports/football/nfl-football-roundup-manning-colts.html?_r=1