Category: Security

Merge Revises Previously Announced Subscription Backlog Totals After an internal audit at Merge uncovers that 25 percent of its backlog contracts were fraudulently submitted by a salesperson attempting to collect unearned commissions, the company is forced to republish its previously reported subscription backlog. Merge stock prices have dropped 16 percent since Wednesday’s announcement.The salesperson has…

The easy access to patient information that portals provide also comes with some sticky HIPAA privacy issues–including how much information teens’ parents should be allowed to view. “Some… read more …read more

0 Can a basic Google search by doctors on patients save lives, expose fraud or is it a major privacy violation? A recent post in The New York Times’ Well Blog got me thinking about whether or not Google is a valid clinical tool. Whenever you go for a job, recruiters tell you about the…

Three members of Congress–Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Rep. Diane Black (R-Tenn.) are seeking answers about the security of healthcare data with regard to the Affordable Care Act this week. read more …read more

Electronic health records may be doing great things for patient care, but they have also made it easier to commit fraud, according to the findings of a new report from the Office of Inspector General. read more …read more    

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has issued a proposed rule to ease HIPAA regulations preventing states from reporting to a database of people prohibited from owning guns for mental health reasons. read more …read more

In what will likely be the GOP’s first effort in 2014 to undercut the health law, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., said Thursday he plans to bring up the measure next week. …read more

2013 brought a flurry of enforcement actions with federal agencies investigating failures by healthcare providers, treatment facilities, and health insurance plans to have appropriate safeguards in place to protect sensitive health information. Interestingly, the most costly enforcement action did not incur a financial penalty. 2013 brought a flurry of enforcement actions with federal agencies investigating…

Concord, Mass.-based Adult & Pediatric Dermatology, P.C. last week agreed to pay a settlement of $150,000 with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office for Civil Rights in lieu of privacy violations stemming from a September 2011 thumb drive theft. According to HHS, the case marks the first settlement with a covered entity…