Orthopedic Clinic Pays $1.5 Million to Settle Systemic Noncompliance with HIPAA Rules: $1,500,000
Resolution Sep 2020
Penalty
$1,500,000
Action type
Resolution agreement
Entity profile
PA
Case number
—
What went wrong
Orthopedic Clinic Pays $1.5 Million to Settle Systemic Noncompliance with HIPAA Rules - September 21, 2020
- Navigate to: HIPAA for Professionals Regulatory Initiatives Privacy Summary of the Privacy Rule Guidance Combined Text of All Rules HIPAA Related Links Security Security Rule NPRM Summary of the Security Rule Security Guidance Cyber Security Guidance Breach Notification Breach Reporting Guidance Reports to Congress Regulation History Compliance & Enforcement Enforcement Rule Enforcement Process En
Full description
Navigate to: HIPAA for Professionals Regulatory Initiatives Privacy Summary of the Privacy Rule Guidance Combined Text of All Rules HIPAA Related Links Security Security Rule NPRM Summary of the Security Rule Security Guidance Cyber Security Guidance Breach Notification Breach Reporting Guidance Reports to Congress Regulation History Compliance & Enforcement Enforcement Rule Enforcement Process Enforcement Data Resolution Agreements Case Examples Audit Reports to Congress State Attorneys General Special Topics Parental Access Mental and Behavioral Health Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident FAQs HIPAA and COVID-19 HIPAA and Reproductive Health HIPAA and Final Rule Notice HIPAA and Telehealth HIPAA and FERPA Research Public Health Emergency Response Health Information Technology Health Apps Patient Safety Covered Entities & Business Associates Business Associate Contracts Business Associates Training & Resources FAQs for Professionals Other Administrative Simplification Rules Substance Use Disorder Confidentiality Orthopedic Clinic Pays $1.5 Million to Settle Systemic Noncompliance with HIPAA Rules Athens Orthopedic Clinic PA ("Athens Orthopedic") has agreed to pay $1,500,000 to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and to adopt a corrective action plan to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules. Athens Orthopedic is located in Georgia and provides orthopedic services to approximately 138,000 patients annually. Read the HHS Press Release Read the Resolution Agreement and Corrective Action Plan* * People using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights at (800) 368-1019, TDD toll-free: (800) 537-7697, or by emailing OCRMail@hhs.gov. Content last reviewed September 21, 2020
Timeline
- ResolutionSep 2020
- Incident and investigation milestones are not consistently published by OCR in machine-readable form.
Key takeaways for your organization
- Treat internet-facing systems and vendor-hosted environments as in-scope for HIPAA risk analysis and technical safeguards testing.
- Maintain an actionable risk analysis tied to remediation milestones; evidence should map to Security Rule implementation specifications.
- Align policies, procedures, and evidence with the specific CFR provisions cited in OCR resolutions affecting your entity type.
- Run tabletop exercises for breach response, OCR inquiry handling, and privilege-preserving communications with counsel.
Related actions
Health Care Provider Pays $100,000 Settlement to OCR for Failing to Implement HIPAA Security Rule Requirements
—
$100,000
Lab Pays $16,500 Settlement to HHS, Resolving Potential HIPAA Violation over Medical Records Request
GA
$16,500
HHS Civil Rights Office Resolves HIPAA Right of Access Investigation with $20,000 Settlement
FL
$20,000
Source
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services release
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights. medcomply.ai aggregates public materials for educational use, not legal advice.