2. UCLA HOSPITAL VIOLATION OF
PATIENT PRIVACY
• At the UCLA Hospital 120 staff member viewed the medical records and
other personal information of celebrities without permission between 2004
and 2006.
• State regulators blame the hospital for not taking the adequate steps to
protect patient confidentiality
• The outcome of violations left one nurse being fired and two others received
warnings (Fox News, 2008).
3. PATIENT PRIVACY
Patients have the right to privacy and are protected
by the laws and regulations that have been
implemented by the U.S. Government
• The Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)
Privacy Rule
4. HIPAA
INFORMATION THAT IS PROTECTED
The Privacy Rule protects all "individually identifiable health
information" held or transmitted by a covered entity or its
business associate, in any form or media, whether electronic,
paper, or oral.
• the individual’s past, present or future physical or mental
health or condition,
• the provision of health care to the individual, or
• the past, present, or future payment for the provision of
health care to the individual (Summary of the HIPAA Privacy
Rule, n.d)
5. HIPAA
THE ENTITIES THAT MUST FOLLOW THE LAW
The entities that must follow the HIPPA Regulations:
• Health Plans, including health insurance companies, HMOs, company health
plans, and certain government programs that pay for health care, such as
Medicare and Medicaid.
• Most Health Care Providers—those that conduct certain business
electronically, such as electronically billing your health insurance—including
most doctors, clinics, hospitals, psychologists, chiropractors, nursing homes,
pharmacies, and dentists. (Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule, n.d.)
6. CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATING
THE HIPAA REGULATIONS
General Penalty
• $100 for each violation however the total amount penalized during a
calendar year may not exceed $25,000
Penalty for wrongfully disclosing patient information
• Fined no more than $50,000, imprisoned no longer than 1 year, or both
• If the offense is committed under false pretenses, be fined not more than
$100,000, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both
• If offense is committed with the intent to sell or transfer information for harm ,
be fined not more than $250,000, imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both
(Penalties Under HIPAA, n.d)
7. INDIVIDUAL CONSEQUENCES
Staff members that choose to violate The Health
Insurance Portability Act will face the following
outcome:
• A strict warning
• Suspension
• Fired
8. REFERENCES
• Penalties Under HIPAA. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2014, from
https://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/compliance/guidance/privacy/penalties.
html
• Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. (n.d.). Retrieved June 25, 2014, from
http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/understanding/summary/index.html
• Fox News. (2008). Report Over 120 UCLA hospital staff saw celebrity health
records. Retrieved from
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,398784,00.html
