Bloomberg News tells a harrowing story of computers that have secretly come under the control of hackers. These computers become known as “bots,” and part of a “botnet,” enabling hackers to remove tens of thousands of dollars from bank accounts of affected companies.
Continue Reading Is your computer a “bot” or part of a “botnet”?
HHS Announces Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announced proposed changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule to implement new requirements concerning individuals’ rights to access reports and accountings of disclosures of their protected health information. The announcement seeks comments from the public as the agency hopes to craft the law so as to provide the greatest transparency for individuals with respect to access to and disclosures of their PHI, while minimizing the burden on covered entities and business associates.
Continue Reading HHS Announces Proposed Changes to HIPAA Privacy Rule
NLRB Continues to Focus on Social Media
With the Wall Street Journal reporting that the NLRB has more than two dozen cases involving worker complaints aired on the social media site Facebook, the Board is struggling to address some of the issues social media creates in the workplace.
Continue Reading NLRB Continues to Focus on Social Media
Employers May Consider Applicant’s Bankruptcy When Making Hiring Decision, Eleventh Circuit Rules
One might think that bankruptcy is a private matter, with little to no bearing on whether one can meet the qualifications for a particular job. As my colleagues report today, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (with jurisdiction over Alabama, Florida and Georgia) joins its sister Circuits (the Third and Fifth Circuits) in
HHS’ Office of Inspector General Recommends More HIPAA Audits
Government report says HIPAA enforcement not sufficient to protect electronic health information and recommends more audits. The result may be more “compliance reviews,” audits, for covered entities and business associates.
Continue Reading HHS’ Office of Inspector General Recommends More HIPAA Audits
Resigtered Nurse Fired for Facebook Posting While Treating Patients
Registered nurse terminated for posting on Facebook while dispensing medication to a patient loses unemployment claim. Reason: employers’ written electronic communication policy.
Continue Reading Resigtered Nurse Fired for Facebook Posting While Treating Patients
More Instances of Identity Theft Affecting Children
NBC’s Bob Sullivan reported on a rising trend of identity thieves targeting children. Why? Well, having no real credit history, most children’s credit is clean and good. Also, children, particularly younger children, are not going to be needing or looking at their credit for some time. These factors make children more attractive targets of identity theft.
Mr.
Inter-agency Cooperation Nabs HIPAA Violator for HHS
Any illusion an organization may hold that it is operating “under the radar” of regulators should be shattered in the current compliance environment. Governmental agencies are increasingly able to efficiently coordinate with one another in matters of enforcement, and this post is a good example of that.
Continue Reading Inter-agency Cooperation Nabs HIPAA Violator for HHS
NLRB Focus Remains on Social Media
Seemingly intent on making sure it is perceived as current, if not trendy, today’s National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has continued to demonstrate an avid interest in social media. Not only is it paying attention to new media in all its forms, but it is also actively participating, with a Facebook page, a YouTube
Human Resources Vendor Settles FTC Charges that it Failed to Protect the Sensitive Employee Data of its Clients
Promising a company that you will safeguard its employees’ information and then failing to do it according to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) standards likely will be viewed by the FTC as an unfair and deceptive business practice and trigger an enforcement action.
This was the case for Lookout Services, Inc., a company that maintains large amounts of