Comments on: “Medical” Identity Theft – New (to me) and Scary http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/cisa-cissp/medical-identity-theft-new-to-me-and-scary/ Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:12:16 +0000 hourly 1 By: Protected Identity http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/cisa-cissp/medical-identity-theft-new-to-me-and-scary/#comment-3 Protected Identity Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:21:36 +0000 http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/cisa-cissp/medical-identity-theft-new-to-me-and-scary/#comment-3 Medical and Character Identity Theft occurrences are outpacing financial identity theft 3 to 1 and the hospitals are primarily to blame. The lack of hospital policy to validate and verify a patients identity by simple cross-checking (see Red Flag Rules, Section 114 of FACTA) is an epidemic in operation policy stupidity.

Although you state that there is no enforcement, HIPPA, FACTA and to a certain extent, GLB all provide enforcement and penalty components aimed directly at the hospital and medical practices and procedures with regard to non-public/personal information of patients and employees. The FTC is enforcing the legislation, the hospitals are blatantly ignoring it, opting to take a “when it happens to us and we get caught” attitude. Once hospitals are fined severely and CEO’s start receiving jail time for data breaches, things will start to change.

But why wait for them, as a consumer, you should be proactive right now and protect yourself from all forms of identity theft including Medical, Character/Criminal, Financial, SSN and DMV.

Consumer education and proactive efforts on an individuals part to protect their identity can no longer be taken with a grain of salt. Medical and character identity theft can kill you!

Blatant plug for Scott’s company has been removed, but you can still email him if you want more information. AEH

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