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Unauthorized Disclosure of Patients’ Protected Health Information During “Boston Med” Filming Results in Multiple HIPAA Settlements Totaling $999,000

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Dissent

Today was not a good day for hospitals in Massachusetts.  First, we saw the state’s attorney general announce a settlement between the state and UMass Memorial Healthcare and UMass Memorial Medical Centers involving insider breaches for fraudulent purposes.

And now we see this announcement from the federal regulator, OCR:

Today, the Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced that it has reached separate settlements with Boston Medical Center (BMC), Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH), and Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for compromising the privacy of patients’ protected health information (PHI) by inviting film crews on premises to film “Boston Med,” an ABC television network documentary series, without first obtaining authorization from patients. Collectively, the three entities paid OCR $999,000 to settle potential violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.

This is the second HIPAA case involving an ABC medical documentary television series, the previous being OCR’s April 16, 2016 settlement with New York-Presbyterian Hospital in association with the filming of “NY Med.”

“Patients in hospitals expect to encounter doctors and nurses when getting treatment, not film crews recording them at their most private and vulnerable moments,” said Roger Severino, OCR director. “Hospitals must get authorization from patients before allowing strangers to have access to patients and their medical information.”

To resolve potential HIPAA violations, BMC has paid OCR $100,000, BWH has paid OCR $384,000, and MGH has paid OCR $515,000. Each entity will provide workforce training as part of a corrective action plan that will include OCR’s guidance on disclosures to film and media: http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/faq/2023/film-and-media/index.html.

The respective Resolution Agreements and Corrective Action Plans may be found on the HHS website at:

https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/compliance-enforcement/agreements/bostonmed/index.html

Related posts:

  • UMass Memorial Health Care Entities to Pay $230,000 to Resolve Massachusetts AG’s Lawsuit Over Data Breaches
  • HHS Office for Civil Rights Imposes a $240,000 Civil Monetary Penalty Against Providence Medical Institute in HIPAA Ransomware Cybersecurity Investigation
  • HHS’ Office for Civil Rights Settles Malicious Insider Cybersecurity Investigation for $4.75 Million
  • UMass settles potential HIPAA violations following 2013 malware infection
Category: Health DataOf NoteU.S.

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