A local health software firm is being sued over a data breach that might have affected more than a million people.
MCG Health, which makes software doctors and their patients can use to guide their care, sent out an alert in June about the March breach, but so far it has only reminded people they’re entitled to a free yearly credit report and pointed to how to monitor their credit themselves. Remember, the ONLY legitimate site for getting your free report is annualcreditreport.com. Any other similar site is likely a commercial endeavor trying to get
Herb Weisbaum the Consumerman says stolen medical IDs are valuable to criminals – so you should look closely at those health insurance statements that say “this is not a bill”. “If you find out there are drugs on there you weren’t prescribed, a procedure you didn’t have, something that doesn’t make sense,” Herb says, “that is the red flag that you may be the victim of medical identity theft, and that’s where you need to do something.” Herb says it’s important since mixing that information into your medical file could put your life at risk in an emergency if doctors or nurses act on information that doesn’t apply to you.
Herb also says odds you’ve avoided a data breach are slim, so the best way to protect yourself is to freeze your credit with the three reporting bureaus, Experian, Equifax and Trans Union, so no one can open accounts in your name. In addition, he suggests setting up fraud alerts which, along with regular monitoring of your account, can alert you to transactions you didn’t conduct yourself. Herb has piles of helpful tips and answers to your questions on his Consumerman website.
Northwest Newsradio has asked MCG Health for comment but, so far, we’ve had no response.