Note to parents and school districts – data thieves are targeting cash-strapped school distrists to steal unprotected personal information of students who happen to have pristine credit histories.
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Written Information Security Program
Automating HIPAA Compliance Tracking and Audit Preparation
HIPAA covered entities and business associates need to consider how to practically and efficiently track and illustrate compliance should they find an OCR investigator knocking at the door.
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OCR Announces HIPAA Audit Program
Today, the Office for Civil Rights formally announced its HIPAA audit plan, with audits commencing in November 2011. A new page on OCR’s website answers some helpful questions for covered entities and business associates, which are summarized in this report.
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Update: Ninth Circuit to Rehear CFAA Case
As previously discussed, the federal appeals court in San Francisco had reinstated an indictment charging a former employee of Korn/Ferry International, Inc., with violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1030 (the “CFAA”) for trying to start a business that would compete with his former employer. Now, however, at…
HIPAA Audits to Begin Early 2012
Approximately 150 HIPAA on-site audits are scheduled to begin in early 2012. Covered entities and business associates should be aware of the nature and scope of these audits and what they should be doing to be prepare should they be selected.
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HHS Report to Congress Shows Marked Increase in Data Breaches
The Office of Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) has published its first round of annual reports to Congress under the HITECH (Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health) Act of 2009 to Congress. The first report concerns HHS’s HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)…
Connecticut Attorney General Establishes Privacy Task Force
Newly created Privacy Task Force in Connecticut may lead to increased enforcement.
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Rep. Mary Bono Circulates Draft Data Breach and Data Security Law
Reuters and other news outlets are reporting that Representative Mary Bono Mack has circulated draft legislation in response to the steady stream of data breaches that have occurred this year. According to the report, Senate Majority leader Harry Reid also has asked four Senate committees to pull together a comprehensive cybersecurity bill, hoping it will be…
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.
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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.
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