Business
HCA computers stolen
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Sept. 11, 2006
Ten computers holding thousands of files with billing information for patients in eight states were stolen from an HCA regional office, the hospital chain announced.
HCA said the FBI and other law enforcement agencies were investigating the theft, which apparently occurred during a recent break-in at a secured building in a Western state. HCA spokesman Jeff Prescott said the company was not disclosing more specific information about the date and location of the incident to avoid tipping off the thieves about the sensitive information.
Data on the computers included some Social Security numbers and other information about Medicare and Medicaid patients who had unpaid bills at HCA hospitals in Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas and Washington over the last 10 years.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/09/11/bibf0911.htm.
