The United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (HHS), recently settled a case against the Office of David Mente, MA, LPC, for a violation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. The healthcare provider, who offers psychological care in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has agreed to pay $15,000 and enter into a Corrective Action Plan (CAP).

HHS received a complaint in December 2017 alleging that David Mente, MA, LPC refused to provide individual access to their minor children’s protected health information. After receiving technical assistance from HHS, a second complaint was filed in May 2018 concerning the continued noncompliance with the Privacy Rule. HHS investigated and found that David Mente, MA, LPC failed to provide timely access to protected health information since April 6, 2018.

The parties agreed to resolve the matter without further investigation or formal proceedings. David Mente, MA, LPC, will pay a resolution amount of $15,000 and comply with a CAP to address the violation. The healthcare provider does not admit liability, nor does HHS concede that there is no violation of the HIPAA Rules.

This situation could have been prevented with the help of the Abyde HIPAA Compliance Software Solution. The software offers a comprehensive and user-friendly solution to help healthcare providers maintain HIPAA compliance by assessing risk, implementing required policies and procedures, and providing ongoing support. By utilizing Abyde, healthcare providers can ensure that they are meeting the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules requirements and avoid costly settlements like the one faced by David Mente, MA, LPC.