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SouthBayDem

(32,470 posts) Mon Sep 30, 2024, 10:52 AM Sep 30

VA staff got into Vance, Walz medical files, sparking investigation

Source: Washington Post

At least a dozen employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs improperly accessed the medical records of vice-presidential nominees JD Vance and Tim Walz this summer, VA investigators found, in a violation of federal health privacy laws that is under criminal investigation.

VA officials notified the Vance and Walz campaigns about the breaches after discovering the unauthorized viewing by employees at the agency’s massive health-care arm, the Veterans Health Administration, according to people familiar with the investigation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the ongoing investigation.

VA Inspector General Michael Missal’s office has shared evidence with federal prosecutors on the actions of several employees in the health system, including a physician and a contractor who spent extended time looking at the candidates’ medical files, according to law enforcement officials, raising investigators’ concerns about their motives.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/09/30/vance-walz-medical-records-breach-va/

35 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

VA staff got into Vance, Walz medical files, sparking investigation (Original Post) SouthBayDem Sep 30 OP

They should be fired immediately and sued by the federal government. kimbutgar Sep 30 #1

Absolutely Rebl2 Sep 30 #22

Hope they get fired and face charges MichMan Sep 30 #2

This message was self-deleted by its author Chin music Sep 30 #12

I guess they didn't find anything, otherwise it would have been leaked. nt. SunSeeker Sep 30 #3

Criminal charges up coming, hopefully for those that did this. republianmushroom Sep 30 #4

I'm sure the VA has its share of MAGAs who are "just following orders" PSPS Sep 30 #5

They went after both candidates. former9thward Sep 30 #20

So what? Please explain. nt PufPuf23 Sep 30 #23

You are implying this was some MAGA former9thward Sep 30 #24

I didn't imply or say anything. PufPuf23 Sep 30 #25

The poster I was replying to said it was MAGA former9thward Sep 30 #27

You replied to me. We agree in his case. PufPuf23 Sep 30 #28

Apologies. former9thward Sep 30 #30

Walz for dirt, Vance to forewarn or just on behalf of trump PSPS Sep 30 #31

Speculation, not evidence. former9thward Oct 1 #33

Of course it's speculation. It's all speculation! I agree with everything you said. PSPS Oct 1 #34

Hipaa violations are a big deal. When I worked at a hospital, anyone caught looking at someone's records Tess49 Sep 30 #6

I do IT support for some medical offices... orwell Sep 30 #8

I understand. Being caught up in a HIPAA violation investigation would be terrifying in my opinion. Tess49 Sep 30 #17

From what I gather... orwell Sep 30 #18

Or worse. Higher fines and jail time. Tess49 Sep 30 #21

it is HIPAA Skittles Oct 2 #35

Lock them all up Renew Deal Sep 30 #7

Hell Drumpf just had his goons break into his docs office in 2016 and sieze his records Evolve Dammit Sep 30 #9

Someone's gotta be really stupid to pull that stunt. Sogo Sep 30 #10

Wtf is wrong with people? (Rhetorical question, no reply needed!) ShazzieB Sep 30 #11

Would it be bdamomma Sep 30 #13

2 wrongs don't make a right but Dear_Prudence Sep 30 #14

could track lil blue pill usage et tu Sep 30 #15

He's 39, not 59. jimfields33 Sep 30 #26

They looked at both Walz and Vance's records MichMan Sep 30 #19

Once worked at a hospital bmichaelh Sep 30 #16

GS'ers have to take Records Management training tonekat Sep 30 #29

As a former VA employee, unless they were being seen in the actual hospital... SKKY Oct 1 #32

kimbutgar

(23,382 posts)

1. They should be fired immediately and sued by the federal government.

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 11:06 AM

Sep 30

Rebl2

(14,794 posts)

22. Absolutely

Reply to kimbutgar (Reply #1)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 05:06 PM

Sep 30

MichMan

(13,293 posts)

2. Hope they get fired and face charges

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 11:06 AM

Sep 30

Why does it matter what their motivations were?

Response to MichMan (Reply #2)

Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.

SunSeeker

(53,790 posts)

3. I guess they didn't find anything, otherwise it would have been leaked. nt.

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 11:07 AM

Sep 30

republianmushroom

(17,808 posts)

4. Criminal charges up coming, hopefully for those that did this.

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 11:10 AM

Sep 30

PSPS

(14,157 posts)

5. I'm sure the VA has its share of MAGAs who are "just following orders"

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 12:38 PM

Sep 30

trump will promise them a pardon if convicted or drop the case via his installed MAGA AG.

former9thward

(33,424 posts)

20. They went after both candidates.

Reply to PSPS (Reply #5)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:17 PM

Sep 30

PufPuf23

(9,246 posts)

23. So what? Please explain. nt

Reply to former9thward (Reply #20)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 06:03 PM

Sep 30

former9thward

(33,424 posts)

24. You are implying this was some MAGA

Reply to PufPuf23 (Reply #23)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 06:05 PM

Sep 30

PufPuf23

(9,246 posts)

25. I didn't imply or say anything.

Reply to former9thward (Reply #24)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 06:10 PM

Sep 30

HIPAA is HIPAA for all.

The violation according to the NY Post article is for looking at Walz and Vance records.

Violations are violations.

former9thward

(33,424 posts)

27. The poster I was replying to said it was MAGA

Reply to PufPuf23 (Reply #25)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 06:45 PM

Sep 30

And you jumped in and said "So what". But now you say you did not say anything. Why did you say "So what" to my comment?

PufPuf23

(9,246 posts)

28. You replied to me. We agree in his case.

Reply to former9thward (Reply #27)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 07:10 PM

Sep 30

Wondered why you replied to me for something I did not say.

former9thward

(33,424 posts)

30. Apologies.

Reply to PufPuf23 (Reply #28)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 08:37 PM

Sep 30

I just replied without looking at the username thinking it was the poster.

PSPS

(14,157 posts)

31. Walz for dirt, Vance to forewarn or just on behalf of trump

Reply to former9thward (Reply #20)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 11:20 PM

Sep 30

former9thward

(33,424 posts)

33. Speculation, not evidence.

Reply to PSPS (Reply #31)

Tue Oct 1, 2024, 10:40 AM

Oct 1

We will see when criminal charges are filed, if they are.

And no one is going to change their vote for president based on medical records of the VP candidate, which would be at least 20 years old at this point.

PSPS

(14,157 posts)

34. Of course it's speculation. It's all speculation! I agree with everything you said.

Reply to former9thward (Reply #33)

Tue Oct 1, 2024, 06:34 PM

Oct 1

Tess49

(1,598 posts)

6. Hipaa violations are a big deal. When I worked at a hospital, anyone caught looking at someone's records

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:04 PM

Sep 30

were perp walked to human resources and fired. Hospitals can face huge fines, and the employee can as well.

orwell

(7,972 posts)

8. I do IT support for some medical offices...

Reply to Tess49 (Reply #6)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:23 PM

Sep 30

...Hipaa is the main reason I am trying to drop them as clients. My liability is way beyond my billable hours as I am not a corporation.

Tess49

(1,598 posts)

17. I understand. Being caught up in a HIPAA violation investigation would be terrifying in my opinion.

Reply to orwell (Reply #8)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 02:09 PM

Sep 30

orwell

(7,972 posts)

18. From what I gather...

Reply to Tess49 (Reply #17)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 02:29 PM

Sep 30

...it can be a $5,000 fine for every breech. If I lose 5 dental x-rays it could be 25K.

No thanks...

Tess49

(1,598 posts)

21. Or worse. Higher fines and jail time.

Reply to orwell (Reply #18)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 04:51 PM

Sep 30

Skittles

(159,607 posts)

35. it is HIPAA

Reply to Tess49 (Reply #6)

Wed Oct 2, 2024, 05:35 PM

Oct 2

yup

Renew Deal

(82,936 posts)

7. Lock them all up

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:09 PM

Sep 30

Hopefully none of them were working for spies when they did it.

Evolve Dammit

(18,783 posts)

9. Hell Drumpf just had his goons break into his docs office in 2016 and sieze his records

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:23 PM

Sep 30

Sogo

(5,788 posts)

10. Someone's gotta be really stupid to pull that stunt.

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:24 PM

Sep 30

Throw the book at 'em!

ShazzieB

(18,752 posts)

11. Wtf is wrong with people? (Rhetorical question, no reply needed!)

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:26 PM

Sep 30

I have worked with medical records in the past (just filing, in facilities where records were not yet fully automated), and this kind of thing turns my stomach.

Prosecutors are weighing, among other factors, how long employees were in the files and their intent when they looked at the candidates’ medical information.

Even if prosecutors don't prosecute every offender equally (depending on factors like those listed above), I hope these people all face serious disciplinary measures.

No doubt there will be more news forthcoming, about charges, discipline, etc. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

bdamomma

(66,534 posts)

13. Would it be

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:35 PM

Sep 30

foreign interference????

Dear_Prudence

(836 posts)

14. 2 wrongs don't make a right but

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:38 PM

Sep 30

Vance is all for the destruction of women's right to privacy. Of course, nobody will be tracking his menstrual periods or checking up to see whether he uses an iud or whether he has terminated any of his pregnancies.

et tu

(1,884 posts)

15. could track lil blue pill usage

Reply to Dear_Prudence (Reply #14)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:45 PM

Sep 30

std's and penile implants
what's good for goose is good for gander type of stuff.
speak up and battle for women's rights- not going back!

jimfields33

(19,134 posts)

26. He's 39, not 59.

Reply to et tu (Reply #15)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 06:14 PM

Sep 30

MichMan

(13,293 posts)

19. They looked at both Walz and Vance's records

Reply to Dear_Prudence (Reply #14)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 02:34 PM

Sep 30

bmichaelh

(609 posts)

16. Once worked at a hospital

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 01:53 PM

Sep 30

Well, that was dumb.

I once worked at a hospital.

They would do monthly reports to see if an employee accessed the medical records of patient without authorization.

tonekat

(2,014 posts)

29. GS'ers have to take Records Management training

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Mon Sep 30, 2024, 08:35 PM

Sep 30

Do they skip that in the VA?

SKKY

(12,261 posts)

32. As a former VA employee, unless they were being seen in the actual hospital...

Reply to SouthBayDem (Original post)

Tue Oct 1, 2024, 04:55 AM

Oct 1

... on the day those files were accessed, and by the MSA, Nurse, or Doctor actually seeing them, there is ZERO excuse. I suspect some heads will roll, and employment will be terminated quickly; if it hasn't already.

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