Gore's Bad Record Speaks Louder
Than His Words On Medical Privacy

 

 

 

AUSTIN - Al Gore   stresses the importance of medical privacy, despite the fact that a GAO study released this month showed the Clinton/Gore Administration has failed to protect the medical records of millions of  Americans.  A September GAO report summarized recent security audits at 24 federal agencies, including the Health Care Financing Administration - the agency that oversees Medicare.  The report found "serious weaknesses" at HCFA that put sensitive medical information at risk.  

"Under Al Gore's watch, sensitive medical records of millions of seniors were left unprotected," said Dan Bartlett. "How can we expect Al Gore to enact and enforce new privacy laws when his administration can't even enforce the laws currently on the books?" asked Bartlett.

CLINTON/GORE LEFT MEDICAL RECORDS UNPROTECTED:

A GAO Report released on September 6th revealed serious security problems at many federal agencies.  It summarized a report by the Inspector General at the Department of Health and Human Services that found serious weaknesses in the protection of sensitive medical records.

"The IG's recent report identified many general control weaknesses associated with computer controls at HCFA's central office, Medicare contractors, and the contractors' shared systems. At the central office, weaknesses were identified in access controls, application software development and change controls, entitywide security program planning and management, and operating system software controls.  At Medicare contractors, weaknesses were identified in these same areas plus weaknesses in segregation of duties and service continuity.  Such weaknesses increase the risk of (1) unauthorized access to and disclosure of sensitive information, (2) malicious changes that could interrupt data processing or destroy data files, (3) improper Medicare payments, or (4) disruption of critical operations.  The report included many recommendations for addressing the identified weaknesses."

       --United States General Accounting Office,

Report to Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology, Committee on Government Reform, 9/6/00

 

 

 

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