HIPAA Basics
What Is Meant by HIPAA? A Practical Guide for 2026
Last year, a solo-practice dermatologist in Connecticut called me in a panic. She'd just received a letter from the Office for Civil Rights
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PHI Protection
A collection of 250 posts
HIPAA and Compliance Training
HIPAA and Compliance Training: What Actually Works
A receptionist at a dermatology clinic in New England forwarded a spreadsheet of 1,800 patient names and insurance IDs to her personal Gmail account.
California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act
California Confidentiality of Medical Information Act Guide
A $4,350 Fine Per Patient Record — And That's Just the State Penalty A few years ago, I worked with a behavioral health
HIPAA Privacy Violation
HIPAA Privacy Violation: What It Costs and How It Happens
A nurse in Tennessee pulls up her ex-husband's medical records after a custody dispute. A front desk worker in Colorado texts a photo
Privacy Rule
Privacy Rule HIPAA Summary: What You Actually Need to Know
A $4.75 Million Mistake That Started With One Misunderstood Rule In 2022, Memorial Hermann Health System paid a $2.4 million settlement to HHS
Who Created HIPAA
Who Created HIPAA? The Real Story Behind the Law
A Law Born From Insurance Horror Stories In 1995, a single mother in Texas lost her health insurance after switching jobs — not because she couldn&
HIPAA Sample Policies
HIPAA Sample Policies: What Actually Works in 2026
A 340-bed hospital in Idaho downloaded a set of HIPAA sample policies from the internet in 2019, dropped their logo on each page, and filed
HIPAA Covered Entity
Which Segments of Your Organization Are Covered Under HIPAA
The Question That Catches Most Compliance Officers Off Guard A hospital system I worked with had 14,000 employees. Their HIPAA training program covered about
HIPAA Purposes
What Are the Four Main Purposes of HIPAA? A Guide
Most People Only Know Half the Story Ask ten healthcare workers what HIPAA is about, and nine of them will say "patient privacy."
Why HIPAA Is Important
Why HIPAA Is Important in Healthcare: Real Stakes
A hospital employee in South Carolina pulled up her ex-husband's medical records out of curiosity. No malicious intent. No financial motive. Just a
HIPAA Compliant Text Messages
HIPAA Compliant Text Messages: What You Must Know
A Single Text Cost This Health System $3 Million In 2018, the University of Rochester Medical Center agreed to a $3 million settlement with OCR
HIPAA Privacy Rule
What Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule Protect? A Real Guide
A physician's office in Texas left a box of patient records next to a dumpster in 2019. Someone took a photo, posted it