[Dataloss] Canada: Confidential patient data sent to wrong company in Manitoba

[lyger]

http://www.pcworld.ca/news/article/44d1f36c0a01040800f0541de8a732f1/pg1.htm

A small Lockport, Manitoba-based distributor of herbal remedies has for 
the past 15 months been mistakenly receiving faxes containing confidential 
information belonging to hundreds of patients with Prudential Financial 
Inc.'s insurance group. The data exposed in the breach -- and faxed to the 
company by doctors and clinics across the U.S. -- included the patients' 
Social Security numbers, bank details and health care information.

So far, at least, efforts to deal with the issue appear to have failed, 
said Jody Baxmeyer, vice president of marketing at North Regent RX, the 
company that's been receiving the faxes.

The situation has been caused by North Regent's toll-free fax number, 
which is nearly identical to one used by Prudential to receive medical 
claims-related information from doctors, Baxmeyer said. In fact, the two 
numbers differ by only one digit, Baxmeyer said.

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