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Trend: Identity thieves get better at stealing medical records

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Electronic Medical Records (EMRs)
Social Security Numbers
patient data
patient records
Credit Information
medical records
Insurance

Recently, identity thieves have become increasingly focused on stealing medical records--and have begun using better methods to get patient data, too. Medical records offer a rich trove of information for an identity thief, often including not only health insurance account numbers and billing addresses, but also dates of birth, Social Security numbers and even credit information. Given the richness of patient records, thieves may make more money stealing them than they would by going after credit card numbers or bank accounts directly. Worse, the thieves are getting more skilled at such thefts. While providers often encrypt their data, thieves often work with insiders who can help them break through these security measures. Concerned about this trend, California and Arkansas now require that consumers be notified when their medical data is accessed, and federal legislators are considering a measure instituting similar requirements.

To learn more about medical record theft:
- read this USA Today article

Related Articles:
The growing problem of medical identity theft
NY hospital worker charged with massive file theft
California expands health data breach rules

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Comments

I believe that it is time that notification systems are enacted. Under HIPAA, accesses under TPO are considered "covered events" although there are no requirements for documenting any form of access.

Creating a requirement would start allowing for more robust patient/consumer protections. When companies show no interest in documenting who they are handing out information to, this creates a situation where abuses are not only under-reported, but by default seem to be encouraged.

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