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Health Connector security eyed [Boston Herald :: ](Boston Herald (MA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) April 16--A state lawmaker yesterday challenged the Patrick administration's assertion that its beleaguered Health Connector website has been breach-free, saying she has info on a possible security break -- fanning concerns Congressional watchdogs raised last month that Bay State residents' private data may be at risk. At a hearing at which Health Connector officials updated legislators on their progress since the website's disastrous rollout, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier (D-Pittsfield) said the state "may have a problem" with its ability to keep people's personal data safe. Administration and Finance Secretary Glen Shor, chairman of the Health Connector Board, told committee members that "we have not experienced a data breach. Private information has not been released to the public," before adding, under questioning, that no one has been hit by identify theft. "I have some information to say that that's not true," Farley-Bouvier said. "I don't think this is talking about a major data breach, but on an individual basis, I think we have a problem with that." Shor pressed her for more information, but Farley-Bouvier said she was hesitant for fear of identifying the person publicly. Shor later said officials planned to immediately follow up with her office. Farley-Bouvier, in a statement later to the Herald, struck a more cautious tone. "I am working with the Health Connector to ascertain whether a resident's concern about possible identity theft stems from the enrollment process, with the health insurance provider or from some other source," she said. Website security was a focus among some congressional members who questioned officials from Massachusetts and other states about their struggling Obamacare websites earlier this month. U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) sent a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick and nine other states saying that by allowing the state exchanges to connect to the federal hub, it "put (the personal information) of potentially millions of users at risk of identity theft and fraud." Issa wrote that state officials also failed to provide required security training to employees on handling personal information, such as federal tax info. Shor defended the system's security protocols and said officials keep an eye out for any complaints about breaches. "That's led us to believe there's been no data security breach," he said. ___ (c)2014 the Boston Herald Visit the Boston Herald at www.bostonherald.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |