DataBreaches.Net

Menu
  • About
  • Breach Notification Laws
  • Privacy Policy
  • Transparency Report
Menu

Los Angeles physical therapy provider settles HHS charges that it impermissibly disclosed patient information

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Dissent

An announcement by HHS on Feb. 16 seems to have flown under most media radar. It seems that Complete P.T. used patient images and testimonials on their web site without patient consent, generating a complaint to HHS that HHS investigated and confirmed. Complete P.T. has admitted liability, agreed to pay $25,000, and has agreed to a corrective action plan. As of today, they still use patient testimonials on their site, but with patients’ initials and no images. There is no statement on their site about this settlement.

Here is HHS’s announcement, below:

Complete P.T., Pool & Land Physical Therapy, Inc. has agreed to settle violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rules with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Complete P.T. is a physical therapy practice located in the Los Angeles area.  The settlement agreement is an admission of civil liability by Complete P.T., requiring payment of $25,000, adoption and implementation of a corrective action plan, and annual reporting of compliance efforts for a one year period.

On August 8, 2012, OCR received a complaint alleging that Complete P.T. had impermissibly disclosed numerous individuals’ protected health information (PHI), when it posted patient testimonials, including full names and full face photographic images, to its website without obtaining valid, HIPAA-compliant authorizations.  OCR’s investigation revealed that Complete P.T.:

  • Failed to reasonably safeguard PHI;
  • Impermissibly disclosed PHI without an authorization; and
  • Failed to implement policies and procedures with respect to PHI that were designed to comply with HIPAA’s requirements with regard to authorization.

“The HIPAA Privacy Rule gives individuals important controls over whether and how their protected health information is used and disclosed for marketing purposes. With limited exceptions, the Rule requires an individual’s written authorization before a use or disclosure of his or her protected health information can be made for marketing.” said OCR Director Jocelyn Samuels.  “All covered entities, including physical therapy providers, must ensure that they have adequate policies and procedures to obtain an individual’s authorization for such purposes, including for posting on a website and/or social media pages, and a valid authorization form.”

The resolution agreement and corrective action plan may be found here.

Category: Breach IncidentsExposureHealth DataOf NoteU.S.

Post navigation

← California Attorney General Releases Report Defining “Reasonable” Data Security
NSA Wants ‘Zero Day’ Process Kept Secret →

Now more than ever

"Stand with Ukraine:" above raised hands. The illustration is in blue and yellow, the colors of Ukraine's flag.

Search

Browse by Categories

Recent Posts

  • Major trial underway for data leak that left 72,000 victims in France
  • Anubis: A Closer Look at an Emerging Ransomware with Built-in Wiper
  • HealthEC Agrees to $5.48 Million Settlement to End Data Breach Lawsuit
  • US offering $10 million for info on Iranian hackers behind IOControl malware
  • Sompo Japan Insurance submits improvement plan after info leakage
  • Moreno Valley, Calif., Schools Report Data Breach
  • The Growing Cyber Risks from AI — and How Organizations Can Fight Back
  • Credit Control Corporation data allegedly from 9.1 million consumers listed for sale on forum
  • Copilot AI Bug Could Leak Sensitive Data via Email Prompts
  • FTC Provides Guidance on Updated Safeguards Rule

No, You Can’t Buy a Post or an Interview

This site does not accept sponsored posts or link-back arrangements. Inquiries about either are ignored.

And despite what some trolls may try to claim: DataBreaches has never accepted even one dime to interview or report on anyone. Nor will DataBreaches ever pay anyone for data or to interview them.

Want to Get Our RSS Feed?

Grab it here:

https://databreaches.net/feed/

RSS Recent Posts on PogoWasRight.org

  • Your household smart products must respect your privacy – including your air fryer
  • Vermont signs Kids Code into law, faces legal challenges
  • Data Categories and Surveillance Pricing: Ferguson’s Nuanced Approach to Privacy Innovation
  • Anne Wojcicki Wins Bidding for 23andMe
  • Would you — or wouldn’t you?
  • New York passes a bill to prevent AI-fueled disasters
  • Synthetic Data and the Illusion of Privacy: Legal Risks of Using De-Identified AI Training Sets

Have a News Tip?

Email: Tips[at]DataBreaches.net

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

Contact Me

Email: info[at]databreaches.net

Mastodon: Infosec.Exchange/@PogoWasRight

Signal: +1 516-776-7756

DMCA Concern: dmca[at]databreaches.net
© 2009 – 2025 DataBreaches.net and DataBreaches LLC. All rights reserved.