239713 “Crimes of Information: An Analysis of the Emergence of Medical Identity Theft in a HITECH ACT Environment”

Monday, October 31, 2011

Joseph Pascarella, PhD , Center for Security Studies, University of Maryland University College, Brooklyn, NY
Amjad Ali, PhD , Center for Security Studies, University of Maryland University College, Adelphi, MD
Crimes of Information are a broad range of crimes that have emerged as technology advances have provided more opportunities for criminals as the amount of sensitive financial information and medical information is entered, transferred, and warehoused in cyberspace. Medical identity theft has been increasing exponentially and there is presently no adequate recourse from law enforcement and victims (both individuals and health care providers) cannot recoup the financial losses. Although Medical Identity theft only consists of a small percentage of identity theft cases, the financial loss per incident are significant.

The Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act was signed into law by President Obama in 2009 as part of the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act of 2009. Essentially, the HITECH Act requires all health care providers, regardless of size, to archive medical records electronically, or what is referred to as Electronic Health Records (EHRs) by 2016. Currently, there is no dedicated specific government law enforcement agency at any level specifically assigned to secure cyberspace. This research will be a preliminary analysis of the issues associated with the practical enforcement provisions to protect health information within the context of the HITECH ACT.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Clinical medicine applied in public health
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines

Learning Objectives:
Describe the emergence of Medical Identity theft and identify the critical issues involved in cyber security with the expansion of mandated Electronic Health Records with the passage of the HITECH Act.

Keywords: Health Information Systems, Health Management Information Systems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract Author on the content I am responsible for because I have been studying this material for nearly 25 years and I have practitioner experience in this field up to the executive command level. Additionally, I have several publications in subject matter related to crime.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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