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 Healthcare System (VISN 10)
Mentioned in a privacy incident report created by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on November 30, 2012. Also cited in 119 other reports.
Report ID: PSETS0000083015, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Reported Entity: VISN 10 Columbus, OH
Issue:
Fee Remittance Advice (3 pages) was mailed from VISN/Facility Fee Department to a patient listed on the Remittance Advice rather than the contracted Home Health Agency as intended. Veteran/patient received Remittance Advice and gave to Home Health Agency employee when that employee was at the veteran's residence providing care. Home Health Agency employee then faxed Remittance Advice to Geriatrics supervisor at VA facility informing supervisor that the veteran received the Remittance Advice in error. Geriatrics supervisor immediately reported the incident to Alternate Privacy Officer. Update: 11/30/12:There are a total of 7 Patients listed on the Remittance Advice including the veteran that received the information in error. Therefore, 6 Patients' information was compromised. Therefore 6 Patients will receive a notification letter due to their medical information being exposed.
Outcome:
We contacted the Fee department who handles the mailings to have them explain their process of sending out correspondence. We made sure that they understood to double and triple check their envelopes before sealing and placing them in the outgoing mail to prevent any documents with multiple patients information from being mailed to a patient rather than an organization.