A recent investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has unearthed a disturbing breach of privacy.
The medical records of vice-presidential candidates Senator JD Vance (R-OH) and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz were illicitly accessed by at least a dozen VA employees. The agency's leadership has since handed over evidence to federal prosecutors and informed the Trump/Vance and Harris/Walz campaigns of the breach.
According to RedState, the VA Inspector General's office, led by Michael Missal, has shared evidence with federal prosecutors concerning the actions of several health system employees, including a physician and a contractor. These individuals spent an unusual amount of time perusing the candidates' medical files, raising suspicions about their motives. "Investigators are trying to determine whether Walz or Vances health records have been shared as a result of the breach," said law enforcement officials.
The employees, including the physician and contractor, utilized their VA computers to access the records, primarily from their government offices. The motives behind their actions are currently under investigation. Some employees claimed their curiosity about Walz and Vance's medical records, given the scrutiny of both nominees' military service during the presidential campaign, drove them to snoop.
The VA employees did not gain access to any disability compensation records, which are held more securely than health records, officials said. VA press secretary Terrence Haines stated in an email to The Washington Post, Any attempt to improperly access Veteran records by VA personnel is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
Both vice-presidential candidates have military backgrounds. Vance served in the Marine Corps for four years, while Walz was a member of the National Guard for 24 years. The breaches are believed to have occurred in July and August and were discovered during a security sweep of high-profile health accounts.
The Post reported that Missal's office found that veterans' health records are relatively easy to log into for VA physicians and other medical personnel. This policy is designed to ensure quick access for doctors inside and outside the VA in an emergency. However, this contrasts with the benefits division, which distributes monthly disability compensation payments to more than 5 million veterans and limits access to these records to a small number of employees.
Employees not charged with crimes could still face disciplinary actions within the agency. Viewing an individuals health information without their knowledge or consent is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Prosecutors are considering several factors to determine whether they will file charges, including how long they viewed the files and their intent behind accessing them.
The Posts report noted that these breaches occur frequently as the healthcare industry is exposed to increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks. Cyberattacks against healthcare providers in the United States have risen by 53 percent over the past three years, with large data breaches showing a 93 percent rise from 2020 to 2022.
As the investigation continues, it is clear that the security of personal health records, particularly those of high-profile individuals, is a pressing concern. The VA's response to this breach will be a crucial test of its commitment to safeguarding veterans' privacy.
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