GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE WARNS MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES VULNERABLE TO IDENTITY THEFT

The GAO (Government Accountability Office) recently issued a report which found serious deficiencies in the Medicare and Medicaid computer network systems called the CMS system.

These vulnerabilities made it possible for hackers to access personal medical records and other personal records. The report found “significant weaknesses in electronic access and other systems control threatened the confidentiality and availability of sensitive CMS financial and medical information…. As a result sensitive, personally identifiable medical data traversing the network is vulnerable to unauthorized disclosure….”

At KnightsBridge Castle we have been following an alarming increase in medical benefits fraud facilitated by identity theft. The lack of a secure network system within CMS places all Medicare and Medicaid patients, medical professionals, and consumers at risk.

The full report may be read at:

www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-06-750