In our article “EHR and ICD-10 Explained,” we discussed the importance of healthcare privacy (Protected Health Information—PHI) and the legal consequences that a medical provider can face if he/she violates the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
HIPAA was enacted on August 21, 1996, and is designed to (as stated in its General Rules section of their website the following):
Ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of all e-PHI they create, receive, maintain or transmit;
Identify and protect against reasonably anticipated threats to the security or integrity of the information;
Protect against reasonably anticipated, impermissible uses or disclosures; and
Ensure compliance by their workforce.
Here’s one example of a HIPAA violation that went to the extreme and which signifies the importance of being vigilant so as not to breach PHI rules.
Surgeon Arrested for HIPAA Violations
A cardiac surgeon, Huping Zhou, was sentenced in April 2024 to four months in jail. He acquired patient records after being fired from the UCLA School of Medicine in 2003 and viewed them 323 times over a three-week period.
Zhou accessed the medical files of his coworkers and the confidential records of celebrities who were patients at the UCLA School of Medicine at one time or another after he was let go from the position.
Zhou pleaded guilty but claimed ignorance, as his lawyer stated that UCLA did not provide adequate training on the consequences of accessing confidential patient files at the time. That was not convincing enough for the court, and Zhou was sentenced and ordered to pay a $2,000.00 fine. This was the first time a person had been jailed for violating HIPPA privacy rules.
The US Government Takes PHI Very Seriously
It is evident that the government is taking HIPAA PHI infractions quite seriously and will take action against those who violate it. Although the case against Zhou was the first verdict for jail time, instances like this are not uncommon when it comes to violating the rights of celebrities.
The government appears to be making it clear that breaches in healthcare PHI will not be tolerated. It conveys that adequate HIPAA training is essential within healthcare provider organizations.
Regarding journalism, it’s hard to match the accomplishments of Geraldo Rivera and officials in Long Island wanted to emphasize his achievements by making May 13th ‘Geraldo Rivera Day’.
At a ceremony in Westbury, NY, honoring attorney and philanthropist Howard Fensterman for his charitable donations to healthcare research, it was an opportune time to acknowledge River for his outstanding reporting about the horrendous conditions at the Willowbrook School for the mentally disabled.
Fensterman’s law firm, Abrams Fensterman, LLP, partially sponsored the ceremonial event along with Hudson Regional LTC Pharmacy and car manufacturer Subaru.
Rivera became nationally famous when, as a NYC reporter for ABC’s Eyewitness News in 1972, he uncovered these conditions at the Willowbrook institution in Staten Island, NY.
As a result of Rivera’s reporting, significant policy changes materialized for the care of mentally ill patients and individuals with disabilities, ultimately leading to the deinstitutionalization movement, which moved patients from large, isolated institutions to community-based care centers. Additionally, legislation such as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (later known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 were introduced.
At the ceremony, Geraldo stood alongside Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and Town of Babylon officials as they announced the special day at Life WORC’s 36th annual Geraldo Rivera Golf Classic.
Depraved Indifference Induces Morality
WORC provides residential and community services, employment services, and financial support to patients and families who have developmental disabilities, including autism. It is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that was founded by Vicki Schneps-Yunis in 1971, whose daughter was an attendant at the Willowbrook School.
Howard Fensterman and Vickey Schepps-Yunis at the WORC ceremony in Westbury, LI
“I met Geraldo at Willowbrook when my daughter was there and I was marching and picketing, and I was working on knocking on air until Geraldo came with his cameras and the power of his passionate coverage of my darling Lara and the 5400 people that lived there propelled us to a class action lawsuit Willowbrook was closed,” quoting Schneps-Yunis by the Long Island Press.
The facility was shut down due to the advocacy work of Schneps-Yunis and the reporting by Rivera, which brought this issue to the forefront.
The Long Island Press quoted Blakeman stating “Geraldo Rivera is an amazing guy, He’s had an incredible career in journalism and as an advocate. I remember Geraldo when he was a fighting reporter. And he met Vicki [Schneps-Yunis] through his advocacy and his journalistic work at the Willowbrook Center, which was a center that was abusing children. He exposed that and he changed the whole conversation with respect to how we treat people with disabilities and with mental illness. So we’re here to celebrate him, we’re here with Vicki to to raise money and raise the consciousness of people to the plight of these individuals that could use a little extra help.”
As Rivera, who is a West Babylon native, took the podium and said “For all these many, many years, we’ve been on this crusade, we’ve taken this idea, this idea of humanity, this idea of caring for the disabled, treating them with the same constitutional rights as any able-bodied person. It has changed the world with that simple concept, the concept of equality. We have changed the world. No more warehousing of humanity. No more shutting people away. Now it’s embracing, celebrating and moving forward.”
Geraldo Rivera’s impact on journalism and advocacy, particularly through his groundbreaking reporting on the Willowbrook School, has left an indelible mark on society. The designation of May 13th as ‘Geraldo Rivera Day’ in Long Island serves as a testament to his contributions. The ceremony in Westbury, NY, honoring both Howard Fensterman for his philanthropic efforts and Rivera for his advocacy, highlighted the profound changes spurred by Rivera’s work. His exposure of the inhumane conditions at Willowbrook not only led to policy reforms and significant legislation but also shifted the societal approach toward individuals with disabilities, advocating for their rights and dignity.
In Conclusion
This event, supported by Fensterman’s law firm, Hudson Regional LTC Pharmacy, and Subaru, showcased the continued commitment to these ideals through organizations like Life WORC, founded by Vicki Schneps-Yunis, a fellow advocate inspired by Rivera’s work.
As Rivera eloquently stated, the fight for equality and humane treatment for all individuals, regardless of their abilities, continues to drive forward, changing the world for the better. The community’s recognition and celebration of Rivera’s legacy reinforce the enduring importance of journalistic integrity and advocacy in fostering social change. Donations to Life WORC remain a vital avenue for supporting this ongoing mission.
Some say that scamming has become an epidemic. Whether you believe that or not, it is certainly on the rise and moving at an accelerated rate.
Today we begin a new series on scam artists. We will cover the basics regarding what they do, how they do it, and how you can protect yourself.
Scams can come by email, text, social media messages, or phone calls. Here are the first line of defense methods you should use to avoid getting hooked by these criminals. We call them red flags.
Things You Should Never Do!
Red Flag #1. Never Give Anyone Your Private Information
If you get a call, an email, or a text asking you for your social security number, birthday, bank account information, credit card information, medical information, or any other personal information, don’t give it to them and hang up! Call your institution directly to confirm that your information was not compromised.
NEVER GIVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION TO A STRANGER WHO CONTACTS YOU!
Red Flag #2. Never Agree to Send Cash or Use an App to Send Money!
If they don’t ask you for your personal information, they may contact you and request money regarding an emergency or other urgent issue. These people are sophisticated. They will sound professional and have a story to try to convince you how real the situation is. They may even already have some information about you, such as your name and address to make the story sound even more legitimate.
If you get tricked into believing them as many do, especially the elderly, they will discourage you from sending them a check, and instead, they will push you to send them money using apps such as Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or to wire them. DON’T!
What’s worse, they may tell you to bring the cash to them. Additionally, they may even tell you to have the cash ready and someone will pick it up at your house or a meeting place.
NEVER AGREE TO SENDING CASH!
Red Flag #3: You Won A Prize!
Although this category can’t be summed up in one article, we thought we’d acquaint you with the thousands of fraudulent methods scammers use to try to catch you off guard using legitimate companies and organizations to deceive you.
The scams may be from a phone call, email or text saying that you are the lucky winner of a prize drawing or that you will get a substantial discount if you send them money for the discount promotion or any variation of many other scenarios they may use.
If you didn’t enter any sweepstakes, consider the information very suspicious. If you get an email from what looks like a legitimate company but is asking you for money upfront via a rouse that you will get a discount or a prize, be wary and contact the business directly.
There are ways to determine if these ‘promotions’ are real just by scrutinizing them a little bit. The email shown above exploits a legitimate retailer into making you think they are the ones sending you this promotion and if you click the link and answer a few questions, you may win the Stanley tool set. You won’t!
Some folks know how to determine that this is a deception, but for the majority of you who don’t, here’s what to look for.
Take a look at where the email came from (circled in red). This is a dead giveaway. If it doesn’t have the company’s domain name, in this case, @acehardware.com, it is a scam.
Many email scams do not show up with the language noted, but Google thinks that it came from Russia and is allowing you to translate the email copy into Russian. A legitimate email would never default to a request for a language translation. More on these deceptions will be in our upcoming articles.
Red Flag #4. Scammers Use Scare Tactics -Don’t Fall For It!
Swindlers like to elicit emotions and their favorite tactic they will use is fear. They may tell you that your electricity is going to be terminated if you don’t pay them right now, or that they are from the IRS and you better pay immediately, or from a mortgage company or bank telling you that something bad is going to happen if you don’t send them money immediately.
Scammers prey on your fear that something bad is going to happen if you don’t comply!
It gets worse and this happens to many of our elderly relatives. They may call you and pretend that they are one of your grandchildren and that they need money immediately because they are in trouble with the police. They will also ask you not to tell their parents, and now with AI at their disposal (which we will discuss in detail below), they can mimic your grandchild’s voice so that it sounds exactly like them.
DON’T FALL FOR SCARE TACTICS!
What You Should Do if You Get One of These Calls
Hang up and call the source (Electric company, bank, mortgage company, etc.) directly. In the case of a relative or grandchild calling you. Tell them you will call them right back at the number you have for them. If they say no, you know it is a scam.
Red Flag #5. Con Artists Will Request Immediate Payment- Be Vigilant to These Signs of Urgency
Photo Unsplash
If the person tells you that they need the money NOW, it is a clear sign that something is definitely wrong! Legitimate companies or organizations will never tell you that.
They will work out a payment plan with you or let you consider the options and allow you to call them back later in the day or within a reasonable time period. They will never push you to send them money immediately!
DON’T FALL FOR CALLS OF URGENCY AND IMMEDIATE PAYMENT!
Red Flag #6. Note the Accent!
Many of the scamers come from overseas and many of these are from people who will have foreign accents. This doesn’t mean that every time you receive a call from a person with a foreign accent the call will be fraudulent. Some may be from legitimate telemarketers or other businesses who may want you to sell you something or donate to a real charity, but you can add this to the list of KEEPING UP YOUR GUARD if you do receive a call like this.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU DO NOT ANSWER ANY PHONE CALLS WHERE YOU DO NOT RECOGNIZE IT!
Conclusion
Always approach unsolicited offers, emails, or calls with skepticism. Scammers often use urgency and pressure to manipulate you.
Verify the identity of the organization contacting you. Confirm their legitimacy through official websites or phone numbers, especially if they claim to be from a government agency, bank, or reputable company.
Be wary of requests for upfront payments to pay a bill, pay a charity, or to receive a prize. Legitimate organizations don’t require you to pay in a manner that sounds like a specific urgency
Never share personal information like Social Security numbers, bank account details, or credit card numbers via email, phone, or social media unless you’ve verified the recipient’s identity.
Stay informed about common frauds and the latest techniques thieves use. You can follow the Federal Trade Commission’s scam page for the latest information on avoiding scams.
Trust Your Instincts: If something doesn’t feel right or seems too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your gut feeling and exercise caution.
Share your knowledge so that others will not fall for these scams.
By following these guidelines and staying vigilant, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling victim to fraudulent activity and protect your personal and financial information.
The New York City subway has been falsely accused of being dirty and unsanitary for decades. This stereotyped conclusion is far from the truth. Although not the place to dine in, as a transportation system, the NYC subway is as clean as any other system in world and probably cleaner than some European subways, such as the London Metro and the Metro in Rome.
With that said, the Wall Street Journal reported that in an erratum published July 29 in the journal Cell Systems, researchers who mapped DNA found in the subway system in New York City said they had mistakenly interpreted data that had led to their original claim they had found bubonic plague and anthrax DNA traces at certain subway stations. The authors of the study have subsequently revised its conclusions.
“Speaking of Science”, a Washington Post blog points out that after the CDC and the New York City Department of Health pushed back the study, authors made the correction. The method of “data collection was just fine – so they’re not retracting their study – but they admit that their interpretations may have been a bit speculative in nature, and that the media’s interpretation of those interpretations got a little out of control.”
Time reports that referring “to the bubonic plague and anthrax findings, the researchers write, ‘There is minimal coverage to the backbone genome of these organisms, and there is no strong evidence to suggest these organisms are in fact present, and no evidence of pathogenicity.’”
