covered entity

A small Denver pharmacy agreed to a $125,000 settlement with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) after HHS alleged that the pharmacy failed to dispose of paper records that contained patient information in accordance with HIPAA.

According to the Resolution Agreement, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) received a report from a local news station that the pharmacy disposed of paper records with protected health information (PHI) in a dumpster that was accessible to the public.  The Resolution Agreement also alleges that the pharmacy failed to implement written policies and procedures to comply with HIPAA, nor did the pharmacy train its workforce as to proper HIPAA protocols and procedures for handling of PHI.
Continue Reading HIPAA Settlement Follows Unsecured Paper Records Disposal

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued on April 19 an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding HIPAA and the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).  This action is based on one of the executive actions in President Obama’s plan to reduce gun violence, which was released in January 2013.

As we previously reported, one of the 23 executive actions in the President’s gun plan is to address unnecessary legal barriers under HIPAA that may prevent States from reporting information to the NICS.  The NICS is the federal government’s background check system for the sale or transfer of firearms by licensed dealers. 

Under federal law, certain persons are disqualified from possessing or receiving firearms, including individuals who have been:

  • Involuntarily committed to a mental institution;
  • Found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity;
  • Otherwise determined, through a formal adjudication process, to have a severe mental condition that results in the individual’s presenting a danger to themselves or others or being incapable of managing their own affairs.

This is known as the “mental health prohibitor.” Continue Reading HHS Issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on HIPAA and Firearm Background Check Reporting