HIPAA Fine Announced: OCR Cracks Down After Multiple HIPAA Complaints Over Patient Right of Access

January 5, 2024

Patients at Optum Medical Care in New Jersey and Connecticut had a frustrating experience: waiting months for their medical records. They requested their records, as guaranteed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), but Optum dragged its feet for months, far beyond the 30-day legal limit.

Fed up with the delays, several patients filed complaints with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The OCR investigated and found that Optum had indeed violated the law. As a consequence, Optum has been slapped with a $160,000 fine and ordered to implement a corrective action plan to speed up the record-sharing process.

This case is a reminder of two important things:

  • Patient medical records belong to them. Patients have the right to access them, and HIPAA protects that right.
  • Once a patient requests their medical records the provider must be sure to provide those records in a timely manner. If not, the OCR could come knocking on the door.

This case is also the 46th enforcement action taken by the OCR under its Right of Access Initiative, highlighting the importance of timely access to medical records for patients across the country.

Abyde: Your Partner in HIPAA Compliance

At Abyde, we recognize the stress practices undergo trying to stay in compliance. We remain committed to supporting practices in navigating the complexities of HIPAA compliance, with a specific emphasis on the importance of providing patients medical records within the allotted time frame.

Contact Abyde today at info@abyde.com and set up a demo to see why Abyde is considered the pre-eminent HIPAA compliance solution.

 

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