Alcohol Treatment Businesses Disclosed Patient Data to Marketers

Monument and Tempest, both offering tools for patients battling with alcohol addiction, have come under fire for exposing patient information. The companies attribute the intrusion to the pixel-tracking software they installed on their websites for marketing purposes. According to an earlier TechCrunch investigation, the online alcohol rehabilitation services acknowledged exchanging confidential patient information with marketers for years. According to a disclosure Monument [...]

2023-07-24T16:10:31-04:00May 3rd, 2023|

How a HIPAA Sanctions Policy Ensures Compliance

Healthcare organizations are legally required to comply with HIPAA regulations to make sure patient privacy and security are protected. HIPAA violations can result in severe penalties including hefty fines and legal action against the organization. This is why it is absolutely vital to establish an effective HIPAA sanctions policy in your workplace. A HIPAA sanctions policy serves as a tool to educate employees about these specific [...]

2023-11-06T17:28:13-05:00April 28th, 2023|

Implications of Noncompliance with HIPAA: What to Expect as a Healthcare Organization

Wondering why your practice or organization should be HIPAA compliant? In the United States, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted in 1996 to regulate the handling and protecting confidential medical information.  The law requires healthcare providers, insurers, and other covered entities to implement strict safeguards and protocols to ensure the privacy and security of patients’ protected health information [...]

2023-10-11T09:28:09-04:00April 19th, 2023|

Unveiling the Consequences of Inappropriate Access to Medical Records – A HIPAA Privacy Rule Violation

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule requires healthcare organizations to protect the privacy of patient medical records and other health information. Violating the HIPAA Privacy Rule can have severe consequences, not just for healthcare providers but also for patients. HIPAA Privacy Rule violations such as inappropriate access to medical records can be prevented with a few simple steps. [...]

2023-07-25T09:38:22-04:00April 5th, 2023|

Exposed: The Cerebral Health Breach

Wouldn’t you think a big company like Cerebral Health wouldn’t need help being HIPAA compliant? The telehealth startup specializing in mental health, says it inadvertently shared the sensitive information of over 3.1 million patients with Google, Meta, TikTok, and other third-party advertisers, as reported earlier by TechCrunch.  In a notice posted on the company's website, Cerebral admits to exposing a laundry list [...]

2023-07-25T10:10:19-04:00March 16th, 2023|

AZ’s Banner Health to Pay $1.25 Million Following 2016 Hack

Groundhog Day 2023 means two years of following a corrective action plan and a $1.25 million settlement for Banner Health Affiliated Covered Entities (Banner Health) following the announcement of a Resolution Agreement with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The settlement and resolution agreement follow an investigation of a 2016 hacking incident that exposed the [...]

2023-07-25T11:05:37-04:00February 3rd, 2023|

10 Most Common HIPAA Mistakes Staff Make

Everyone makes mistakes sometimes, but when healthcare staff does, it can cause significant repercussions regarding HIPAA. But by being aware of common HIPAA mistakes staff makes, you can limit your practice’s risk. Sharing login credentials with a coworker Improperly accessing medical charts Sharing patient information on social media Responding to online patient reviews Leaving portable electronic devices unattended  Failing to respond to [...]

2023-07-25T11:35:28-04:00January 18th, 2023|

Anti-Social Media – How a Post Becomes a HIPAA Violation

In a world where hundreds of millions of tweets, posts, snaps, and stories are posted on social media daily, sharing information about our lives may seem like second nature. But for those in the healthcare industry, sharing the wrong thing could result in a HIPAA violation. Here are a few examples of how a seemingly innocent social media post can go wrong [...]

2023-10-30T14:40:15-04:00January 13th, 2023|

Another HIPAA Right of Access Settlement Ends in a Hefty Fine

The HHS wasted no time in 2023, marking the new year with a fine announcement. On January 2, 2023, the HHS issued a press release announcing a $16,500 fine under the HIPAA right of access initiative. Life Hope Labs Slapped with HIPAA Fine In August 2021, the HHS received a complaint that Life Hope Labs failed to meet a medical records request. [...]

2023-07-25T12:52:27-04:00January 4th, 2023|

HIPAA Fines 2022 Review: What We Know and What Lies Ahead

At first glance, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights HIPAA enforcement for the year 2022 appears to be lax. In 2022, OCR entered into 20 resolution agreements with HIPAA-covered entities, and imposed civil monetary penalties on two more. 22 cases total.  The breakdown: four HIPAA Privacy Rule impermissible disclosure cases. 17 right-of-access cases (15 settlements, 2 cases [...]

2023-07-25T13:09:06-04:00December 16th, 2022|