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Victims of UMC Identity Breach May Wait 60 Days to Find Out They're Involved

"But the hospital still has not disclosed the breach to the patients, Silver told a committee of legislators Wednesday. She spoke as if this was not a problem. The law allows 60 days from the time UMC learns of a security breach to inform patients, she said.

One victim says that is too long to wait to tell patients they may be at risk of identity theft.

The hospital should have disclosed the breach immediately, said a 40-year-old UMC patient whose personal information — the kind that can be used for identity theft — was leaked. The man, who went to the public hospital Nov. 1 after a motorcycle accident, learned his privacy had been breached only when a Las Vegas Sun reporter told him Wednesday afternoon.

The FBI has launched an investigation into violations of the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, better known as HIPAA — which includes penalties of up to $250,000 in fines and 10 years in jail.

The Sun reported the leak — the latest scandal to hit the beleaguered hospital — after the newspaper obtained 21 UMC patient “face sheets” — cover sheets that include overviews of each case — from a source who was concerned about the leak. The sheets were from Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 and were for people involved in traffic accidents."

Regardless of the laws in place, those who are harmed by the release of this information can have their lives seriously damaged if their private information falls into the wrong hands, especially in the age of the Internet.  If you or someone you love has fallen prey unwittingly to a scam like this one, you need the help of a Las Vegas personal injury lawyer who understands how to properly protect your legal rights.  Contact Jack Bernstein & Associates today to schedule a free initial consultation.