Is Your Prescription Bottle a Security Risk?

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You decide to clean out your medicine cabinet and throw away old prescriptions that you no longer need.  Unwittingly, you’ve now put your identity at risk.  Identity thieves can easily access your medical records with information contained right on your prescription bottle. Not only have you created a security risk for yourself, but did you know it is a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act to throw medical information into the garbage?

General practitioners need to safeguard patients’ information by carefully disposing of written prescriptions as well as prescription bottles.  Some safeguards:

  • Be diligent: Properly dispose of both your prescriptions and prescription bottles. Make certain labels are shredded and disposed of so identity thieves can no longer access your private information.
  • Be discreet: When standing in line at your pharmacy, conceal your prescriptions and NEVER give out your personal information (even your phone number,) over-the-counter. A reputable pharmacist will understand your concerns and can get that information from your prescription documentation.
  • Be curious: Don’t hesitate to ask your doctor or pharmacist how records are stored and more importantly, how they are disposed of. Physicians are required by law to dispose of your records (electronic and paper) properly. In general, a covered entity may not dispose of PHI (Personal Health Information,) in paper records, labeled prescription bottles, hospital identification bracelets, PHI on electronic media, or other forms of PHI in dumpsters, recycling bins, garbage cans, or other trash receptacles generally accessible by the public or other unauthorized persons. The HIPAA Privacy Rule requires that covered entities apply appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect the privacy of PHI, in any form, including in connection with the disposal of such information.

SecurShred offers far more than paper shredding…As a secure, AAA certified facility by the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID) SecurShred ensures your information will be safe and secure at all times. Contact us to schedule a pickup.