Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
VA Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 2, 2012. Also cited in 369 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000081910, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 08 Gainesville, FL
Issue:
Veteran A's wife received a a denial letter of another Veteran B. Privacy will investigate. Update: 11/08/12:The spouse of Veteran A returned the top portion of a Fee denial letter intended for Veteran B to VA with a letter addressing the denial of several fee claims for Veteran A. Upon review of the letter from the spouse of Veteran A, including the attached top portions of several Fee denial letters for Veteran A, the VA Fee employee notice one belonged to Veteran B. The denial letter for Veteran B was dated 02/06/12, and contained the name, address and denial of a fee claim but no health information. The spouse of Veteran A did not even notice the denial letter was for Veteran B and did not address it in her response to VA. Her concerns were with the denial of Veteran As Fee denials. This will be changed to an incident but there appears to be little or no risk to Veteran B. The Service resolved this issue back in May by no longer allowing volunteers to mail letters. VA staff is mailing Fee letters until they can obtain an automated letter folding system. Since it was out of VA control, Veteran B will receive a general notification letter.
Outcome:
The Service resolved this issue back in May by no longer allowing volunteers to mail letters. VA staff is mailing Fee letters until they can obtain an automated letter folding system. HIPAA notification letter sent to the affected Veteran.