Seriousness of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Violations: 7 Things to Know

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 was created by the US Government to protect the health interests of the American citizens. The act protects the health insurance covers of workers and employees and their families in the event of changing jobs. This was a landmark act as it helps the employees in a big way by taking care of their insurances. All companies, establishments and offices are required to be under this scheme and the employees and workers are enrolled with their insurance information. The HIPAA training program helps the employee health insurance record to be in the database from where he or she can track the latest announcements and developments.

Violations of HIPAA are taken very seriously and failure to adhere with the rules of the Act can lead to civil punishments and penalties, and in some very serious cases can lead to criminal cases. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 was framed to prepare a penalty structure for the HIPAA violations. Some of the most common violations are presented below in a brief, with the minimum and maximum penalties.

– When the Individual is unaware of the HIPAA Violation he has committed: The minimum penalty ranges from $100 to $50,000 for a single violation annually. Repeat violations may be fined from a minimum of $25,000 to a maximum of $1.5 million annually.

– When the Individual has violated the HIPAA due to a reasonable cause: The minimum fine is $1,000 per violation to $50,000 for single violation annually. For repeat violations, the offender may have to pay $100,000 to $1.5 million annually.

– When the Individual has violated the HIPAA due to willful neglect but the violation is rectified within 30 days: The penalty for single violation on the minimum is $10,000 and $50,000 the maximum annually. Repeat violations are fined $250,000 on the minimum side and $1.5 million on the maximum annually.

– When the Individual has violated the HIPAA due to willful neglect and does not correct it: One time violation is minimum $50,000 and maximum $1.5 million annually. Repeat offenses are fined a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $1.5 million annually.

– When the individual knowingly furnishes, discloses or obtains wrong health information: This violates the Administrative Simplification Regulations and the individual can be fined up to $50,000 and may also be jailed for up to one year.

– Offenses under false pretenses: This penalty amounts to $100,000 as fines and up to five years of imprisonment.

– Those who use, sell and transfer information for personal gains: This is a serious offense and the guilty is fined for $250,000 and ten years imprisonment.

All the above mentioned cases are offenses, and such repeat offenses fetch serious punishment. The law was created to benefit the people by taking care of their insurance cover. Misusing the information, obtaining and furnishing false information and repeatedly committing mistakes is not tolerated and is taken seriously.

For more information, please visit our hipaa violations website http://www.hipaaviolations.com

For more information, please visit our hipaa violations website.

For more information, please visit our hipaa violations website http://www.hipaaviolations.com

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Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: hipaa violations,,Violations of HIPAA Health Insurance