Tag: Information Blocking

From U.S. Health and Human Services:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has reached a settlement with Phoenix Healthcare over a potential violation of the HIPAA Right of Access provision. The case involved a daughter, acting as a representative for her mother, who could not access her mother’s health information for almost a year despite numerous requests. OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer emphasized the importance of timely access to medical records for patient decision-making and treatment accuracy. Phoenix Healthcare eventually provided the requested records 323 days after the initial request. This case marks OCR’s 47th enforcement action related to the Right of Access provision under HIPAA.

OCR has settled its thirteenth enforcement action under the HIPAA Right of Access Initiative, which involved a primary care physician practicing in the State of Georgia. Dr. Peter Wrobel, M.D., P.C., operating under the fictitious name of Elite Primary Care, became subject to an OCR investigation (twice) for his alleged violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Dr. Wrobel must pay a Resolution Amount of $36,000.00 and implement a two year Corrective Action Plan following the OCR’s second investigation. This is an example of another single patient complaint leading to a substantial penalty under the Right of Access Initiative.

Source: No Signs of Slowing Down: The OCR Settles another Investigation under the HIPAA Right of Access Initiative