Leveraging Knowledge to Manage Your Data Risks
Last week, New York federal judge Vincent L. Bricetti dismissed a data breach class action against Northeast Radiology PC (Northeast) and Alliance HealthCare Services (Alliance) because the plaintiffs failed to allege a cognizable injury.
In July 2021, Jose Aponte II and Lisa Rosenberg filed suit alleging that Northeast and Alliance failed to protect their sensitive…
Okta, which markets itself as a “leading provider of identity” in the health care, public sector, energy, financial services, technology, travel and hospitality, and nonprofit industries, has notified some of its customers that data may have been accessed by cybercriminal group LAPSUS$. (Late breaking news—LAPSUS$ may be a teenager living in the U.K.). According to…
In general, both state and federal laws apply to health information or protected health information that is in the possession of hospitals, health systems, and medical providers.
HIPAA requires that covered entities protect the confidentiality and integrity of protected health information in their possession and secure it from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. In addition,…
HIPAA requires covered entities and business associates to report to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) all breaches of unsecured protected health information when the incident involves fewer than 500 individuals no later than 60 days following the calendar year in which the breach occurred.
This year, the deadline for reporting breaches that occurred in…
Mobile health apps are growing in popularity and their number is increasing every year. Many of us find it convenient to use an app to schedule medical appointments, check medical records, track and store health data, and check symptoms. App developers have always needed to be mindful of protecting the privacy of the information that…
One of the challenging things about HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) enforcement is the fact that both the Office for Civil Rights and State AGs have jurisdiction to assess fines and penalties for HIPAA violations. The old double whammy.
States enforce those rights sparingly, but New Jersey is getting itself on the map…
A federal district court in Montana has confirmed that HIPAA precludes a private right of action for patients to claim an unauthorized access, use, or disclosure of protected health information. Nonetheless, the court denied the defendant covered entity’s motion to dismiss the complaint, holding that the plaintiff could move forward with state-specific claims of invasion…
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services recently issued its Summer 2021 Cybersecurity Newsletter, which focuses on controlling access to electronic personal health information (ePHI) and the HIPAA Security Rule standards. Citing to a recent report of security incidents and data breaches in the health care…
Last week, Diabetes, Endocrinology & Lipidology Center Inc. (DELC) of West Virginia reached a $5,000 settlement with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) over allegations that it failed to provide timely access to a patient’s health records. The OCR alleged that DELC waited more than two years to send a minor’s medical records to their…
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) this week announced a settlement with Peachstate Health Management LLC (aka AEON Clinical Laboratories) following a compliance review that uncovered alleged violations of HIPAA.
The settlement includes a $25,000 payment to OCR by Peachstate, a corrective action plan, and three years of monitoring by OCR.
OCR initiated a compliance…
