Privacy group calls for immediate review of VA breach
Compliance Monitor, June 7, 2006
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HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt should immediately conduct a full compliance review of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), according to a May 31 letter from the Consumer Coalition for Health Privacy.
The personal information of more than 26 million veterans was compromised after a thief stole electronic data May 3 from the home of a VA employee. The data included names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and some disability ratings.
Privacy advocacy group Health Privacy Project sent the letter on behalf of 30 organizations, including the American Academy of HIV Medicine, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Center for Democracy and Technology, and called on Secretary Leavitt to immediately initiate the review of the VA's compliance with HIPAA's privacy and security standards.
Veterans Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary Michael McLendon May 30 announced his resignation following allegations that he did not immediately inform top officials about the theft.
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