HIPAA Compliance Insights

Types of Protected Health Information

Types of Protected Health Information: A Field Guide

A therapist in Oregon left a voicemail for a patient's emergency contact. She mentioned the patient's diagnosis, medication, and next appointment

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 10, 2026

PHI

PHI Stands For: What It Means and Why It Matters

A Single Fax Changed Everything for This Clinic A dermatology practice in New England lost $150,000 in a settlement with the Office for Civil

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 10, 2026

Telemedicine and HIPAA

Telemedicine and HIPAA Compliance: What You Must Know

A Psychiatrist's Laptop Changed Everything In 2020, a psychiatrist in New England started seeing patients over Zoom. No Business Associate Agreement. No encryption

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 10, 2026

PHI

Is a Medical Record Number PHI? Yes — Here's Why

A front desk staffer at a mid-size orthopedic practice once told me, "It's just a number — it's not like I

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 9, 2026

Annual HIPAA Risk Assessment

Annual HIPAA Risk Assessment: What Most Orgs Get Wrong

A $4.3 Million Wake-Up Call That Started with a Missing Checkbox In 2023, Banner Health agreed to a $1.25 million settlement with OCR

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 9, 2026

HIPAA Court Cases

HIPAA Court Cases: 7 Rulings Every Covered Entity Must Know

A hospital in Texas loses $4.3 million because a physician posted a photo on social media. A health plan in Indiana gets hit with

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 8, 2026

HIPAA Privacy Rule

The Blank Describes How PHI May Be Used: Answered

If you've ever stared at a HIPAA certification exam question that reads "the blank describes how PHI may be used," you&

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 8, 2026

HIPAA and Bloodborne Certification

HIPAA and Bloodborne Certification: What You Need

Two Certifications, One Confused Workforce A medical office manager in Tampa once told me her entire front-desk staff thought their annual bloodborne pathogens training "

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 7, 2026

HIPAA Compliant Fax

HIPAA Compliant Fax: What Actually Matters in 2026

A nurse in a busy orthopedic clinic hits "send" on a fax machine and watches the confirmation page print. The referral — packed with

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 7, 2026

Why Is HIPAA Important

Why Is HIPAA Important? Real Costs of Ignoring It

A single stolen laptop cost Lifespan Health System $1,040,000. Not because the laptop itself was valuable — it was worth maybe $800. The penalty

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 7, 2026

HIPAA Privacy Rule

What Is the Purpose of HIPAA Privacy Rule? A Real Answer

A Nurse, a Waiting Room, and a $4.3 Million Problem In 2016, a nurse at a New York hospital mentioned a patient's

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 6, 2026

HIPAA Title 1

What Does Title 1 of HIPAA Cover? A Clear Guide

A woman in Ohio loses her job on a Friday. By Monday, her daughter needs emergency surgery. Before 1996, that gap in employment could have

Carl B. Johnson · Oct 6, 2026