Health Information Management

Humana faces HIPAA scrutiny over data security lapse

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, June 12, 2006

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Personally identifiable data for approximately 17,000 Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in a health plan administered by Humana Health Plans, Inc. is insecure, according to the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG).

CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan has required the health plan to

  • notify all affected beneficiaries
  • provide free credit monitoring services for one year
  • submit a corrective action plan to prevent future violations

CMS will also look into possible HIPAA security and privacy enforcement action. A thief stole approximately 250 Humana member applications from an insurance agent's car last month in an unrelated incident.



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