Tucker Arensberg PC issued the following announcement on Nov. 26.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (“HHS”) just announced a $125,000 settlement for a disclosure of patient protected health information (“PHI”) to a reporter.
In 2015, a patient of Allergy Associates of Hartford, P.C. (“Allergy Associates”) contacted a local TV station about a dispute that the patient had with Allergy Associates regarding her use of a service animal. A reporter for the TV station contacted Allergy Associates for comment, and Allergy Associates disclosed the patient’s PHI to the reporter.
After the disclosure, HHS initiated an investigation and notified Allergy Associates. Even after it was notified of the investigation, Allergy Associates failed to discipline the individual who had disclosed the patient’s PHI.
To settle the matter, Allergy Associates has agreed to pay HHS $125,000 and enter into a Corrective Action Plan.
Original source can be found here.