Federal Judge Sentences Physician And Other Employees For HIPAA Violations | Med Law Blog | Tucker Arensberg, P. C.

Contributed by Paul Welk, Esq.

A federal judge in Arkansas sentenced a physician to one year of probation, a $5,000 fine and 50 hours of community service educating professionals on HIPAA; an account representative to one year of probation and a $2,500 fine; and an emergency unit coordinator to one year of probation and a $1,500 fine, all in connection with HIPAA violations related to viewing electronic medical records of a high profile patient at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center without a legitimate reason. Additionally, the physician was suspended for two weeks and ordered to complete additional HIPAA training while both the account representative and emergency unit coordinator were terminated from employment. The case was investigated by the Little Rock, Arkansas Division of the FBI and prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office.