Arizona Inmate Medical Information Exposed Online
A recent incident has brought to light the exposure of private medical information for some Arizona inmates online. The ACLU discovered this breach after finding inmate medical details listed in a manual on the website of contracted healthcare provider, NaphCare.
The exposed information included diagnoses, prescription medications, and immunization records, which should have been kept confidential. With over 35,000 individuals incarcerated in Arizona’s prison system, the impact of this privacy violation is significant.
In response to the ACLU’s report, NaphCare launched an investigation and acknowledged that a section of their training manual had been mistakenly made public. They promptly removed the manual from their website to prevent further access to the sensitive data.
The ACLU raised concerns about potential violations of HIPAA laws and notified both the state corrections department and NaphCare about the issue. A NaphCare spokesperson stated that out of the 54 individuals identified by the ACLU, only ten records were actually impacted, with the rest containing limited health data or non-health related information.
While NaphCare took immediate action to address the breach, the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry is also investigating the matter. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges in ensuring the security of inmate healthcare information.
Despite past scrutiny of prison healthcare practices, NaphCare and ADCRR are working to improve their compliance with healthcare regulations. The ACLU has filed a complaint with the federal Department of Health and Human Services to further investigate the issue.
NaphCare reassured the public of their commitment to patient privacy and data security, emphasizing their proactive measures to strengthen security protocols. Moving forward, they are focused on ensuring strict compliance with policies and procedures to prevent similar incidents.
Stay Informed with 12News
Stay updated on the latest news and stories by subscribing to the 12News YouTube channel. Keep informed and engaged with important issues affecting our community.
