[UFO Chicago] HIPAA regulations?

[Ruben Safir]

On Mon, Nov 05, 2007 at 04:22:16PM -0600, Eric Ellington wrote:
> I was recently in the hospital, I'm fine and not dying now. Sadly
> while I was in I had to fill out and sign about 50 different forms. A
> few I put an email address on when requested. Guess what I got in my
> inbox today.
> 
> "
> 
> Fully Licensed Medical Doctors in the USA
> 
> 788,489 in total – 17,832 emails
> 
> 34 primary and secondary specialties
> 
> Over a dozen sortable fields
> 
> This week's special price =  $494
> 
> 
> *** Recieve the data below without charge when you buy the Medical
> Doctor Database above ***
> 
> List of American Pharma Companys execs
> Personal email addresses (50000 in total) and names for execs
> 
> American Hospital Database
> more than 23k hospital administrators in over 7k hospitals [worth over
> $300 alone)
> 
> US Dentist Contact List
> 597,000 dentists and dental services ( a $300 value!)
> 
> Contact List of US Chiropractors
> Complete data for all chiropractors in the USA (a $249 value)
> 
> (206) 600-4472
> 
> 
> above valid thru Nov 9
> 
> "
> 
> It seems obvious to me that someone after a week harvested my email
> address from the hospital I was at.
> 
> I know there are a bunch of HIPAA regulations that are supposed to
> safeguard your privacy electronically or otherwise. Does anyone work
> in the medical industry and know who I can complain to? I checked out
> the HIPAA website but still don't know where to really start, or if
> anyone will listen.
> 


First, the hospital has to have a privacy officer.  That is the place to start.  All the
isurance companies likewise have to have Privacy Officers. Ultimately, the Department of
Health and Human Services is directly responsible for oversite.

Ruben Safir RPh
> -- 
> Eric Ellington
> e.ellington at gmail.com
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> UFO Chicago -- Users of Free Operating Systems
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"> I'm an engineer. I choose the best tool for the job, politics be damned.<
You must be a stupid engineer then, because politcs and technology have been attached at the hip since the 1st dynasty in Ancient Egypt.  I guess you missed that one."

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