NYT: Security Gaps in Medicare, Medicaid (Another governance SCREW-UP!)

[DeepModem Mom]

HOW MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS INABILITY, OR UNWILLINGNESS, TO GOVERN DOES ANYONE PAYING ATTENTION SEE, ON A DAILY BASIS?

Security Gaps in Medicare and Medicaid
By ROBERT PEAR
Published: October 8, 2006

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 — Federal investigators say they have found serious computer security flaws that could lead to the improper disclosure of sensitive medical information on people enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

In a new report, the investigators, from the Government Accountability Office, said “key information security controls were missing” from a huge communication network used by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

As a result, they said, sensitive, personally identifiable information “could be improperly modified, disclosed or deleted.” Moreover, the report said, “these weaknesses could lead to disruptions in services” to millions of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries.

The network is used to pay claims and to communicate with state Medicaid agencies, health care providers and many private contractors....

***

The Bush administration is encouraging adoption of electronic health records and is urging doctors to send prescriptions electronically to drugstores. It is also asking beneficiaries to keep track of their health information, including Medicare claims and prescriptions, by using a new online service at www.MyMedicare.gov. In fine print, the government says it “does not warrant the accuracy” of information on the Web site.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/08/washington/08health.html?hp&ex=1160280000&en=7aa36c5e587deef5&ei=5094&partner=homepage

[fed-up]

1. WTF, a new way to kill off our seniors??? lost or inaccurate files, what

an easy way to make sure that treatment is delayed causing extreme stress to some of the most vulnerable members of our society

No files, no treatment???

A new way to save tax $$$??

[WePurrsevere]

2. Can we sue the government if our info is misused? There's NO good reason

for personal information to not e secured properly on a government site. This has the potential to be a nightmare for the disabled and seniors using Medicare and the low/no income using Medicaid.

Once again a nice bit of INCOMPETENCE on the part of the BuSh* Admin. If they can't keep the personal information intrusted to them by Vets, Disabled, Seniors and the poor secure how can anyone think they can possibly be trusted with the security of our country? :grr: