Enforcement Highlights

(As of December 31, 2014)

The HIPAA Privacy Rule is a set of federal standards to protect the privacy of patients' medical records and other health information maintained by covered entities: health plans, which include many governmental health programs, such as the Veterans Health Administration, Medicare and Medicaid; most doctors, hospitals and many other health care providers; and health care clearinghouses. These standards provide patients with access to their medical records and with significant control over how their personal health information is used and disclosed. Compliance with the standards was required as of April 14, 2003 for most entities covered by HIPAA. On that date, OCR began accepting complaints involving the privacy of personal health information in the health care system.

The HIPAA Security Rule establishes national standards for the security of electronic protected health information.  The final rule adopting HIPAA standards for security was published in the Federal Register on February 20, 2003. This final rule specifies a series of administrative, technical, and physical security safeguards for covered entities to assure the confidentiality of electronic protected health information. The standards are delineated into either required or addressable implementation specifications. Compliance with the standards was required as of April 20, 2005, for most entities covered by HIPAA. The authority to administer and enforce the Security Rule was transferred to OCR on July 27, 2009.

The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule requires covered entities and their business associates to notify the Secretary, individuals, and in some cases, the media, regarding breaches of unsecured protected health information.  Compliance with the standards was required as of September 23, 2009.  

Enforcement Results as of the Date of This Summary

Since the compliance date of the Privacy Rule in April 2003, OCR has received over 106,522 HIPAA complaints and has initiated over 1,183 compliance reviews.  We have resolved ninety-six percent of these cases (102,292).

OCR has investigated and resolved over 23,314 cases by requiring changes in privacy practices and corrective actions by, or providing technical assistance to, HIPAA covered entities and their business associates.  Corrective actions obtained by OCR from these entities have resulted in change that is systemic and that affects all the individuals they serve.  OCR has successfully enforced the HIPAA Rules by applying corrective measures in all cases where an investigation indicates noncompliance by the covered entity.  OCR has investigated complaints against many different types of entities including:  national pharmacy chains, major medical centers, group health plans, hospital chains, and small provider offices.

In another 10,566 cases, our investigations found no violation had occurred.  

Additionally, in 7,883 cases, OCR has intervened early and provided technical assistance to HIPAA covered entities, their business associates, and individuals exercising their rights under the Privacy Rule, without the need for an investigation.

In the rest of our completed cases, (60,529) OCR determined that the complaint did not present an eligible case for enforcement.  These include cases in which:

  • OCR lacks jurisdiction under HIPAA.  For example, in cases alleging a violation by an entity not covered by HIPAA;
  • The complaint is untimely, or withdrawn by the filer. The activity described does not violate the HIPAA Rules.  For example, in cases where the covered entity has disclosed protected health information in circumstances in which the Privacy Rule permits such a disclosure.

From the compliance date to the present, the compliance issues investigated most are, compiled cumulatively, in order of frequency:

  1. Impermissible uses and disclosures of protected health information;
  2. Lack of safeguards of protected health information;
  3. Lack of patient access to their protected health information;
  4. Lack of administrative safeguards of electronic protected health information; and
  5. Use or disclosure of more than the minimum necessary protected health information.

The most common types of covered entities that have been required to take corrective action to achieve voluntary compliance are, in order of frequency:

  1. Private Practices;
  2. General Hospitals;
  3. Outpatient Facilities;
  4. Pharmacies; and
  5. Health Plans (group health plans and health insurance issuers)

Security Rule Enforcement Results as of the Date of This Summary

  • With regard to the subset of complaints specifically pertaining to the Security Rule, since OCR began reporting its Security Rule enforcement results in October 2009, HHS has received approximately 940 complaints alleging a violation of the Security Rule. During this period, we closed 689 complaints after investigation and appropriate corrective action. As of August 31, 2014, OCR had 316 open complaints and compliance reviews.

Referrals

OCR refers to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for criminal investigation appropriate cases involving the knowing disclosure or obtaining of protected health information in violation of the Rules. As of the date of this summary, OCR made over 543 such referrals to DOJ.

Watch for monthly updates reporting the number of cases received, investigated or resolved.
 

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