Private Health Information
What Is Considered Private Health Information Under HIPAA
A Patient's Name on a Sign-In Sheet Cost One Practice $125,000 I got a call from a clinic manager who was genuinely
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PHI
A collection of 96 posts
HIPAA Privacy Rule
What Are the Privacy Rules of HIPAA? A Plain Guide
A Single Fax to the Wrong Number Cost One Health System $4.3 Million In 2016, Advocate Health Care Network agreed to a $5.55
PHI
PHI Includes More Than You Think: A Complete Guide
A hospital employee in Texas forwarded a patient's appointment confirmation to a personal email so she could "follow up from home."
PHI
PHI Patient Data: What Counts and What Gets You Fined
A hospital employee in Texas looked up her ex-husband's medical records on a slow Tuesday afternoon. No clinical reason. No authorization. Just curiosity.
PHI
What Does PHI Stand For in the Medical Field?
A hospital receptionist emails a patient's lab results to the wrong address. A therapist discusses a case by name in a crowded elevator.
Protected Health Information
Which of the Following Is Protected Health Information?
A nurse texts a patient's lab results to a colleague using a personal phone. A receptionist confirms an appointment over the phone to
HIPAA Patient Identifiers
HIPAA Patient Identifiers: The 18 Data Points That Trigger Compliance
A hospital employee in Texas once looked up her ex-husband's medical records out of curiosity. She didn't change anything. She didn&
The Privacy Rule
The Privacy Rule: What It Actually Requires in 2026
A Receptionist, a Phone Call, and a $1.5 Million Problem A hospital receptionist confirmed a patient's diagnosis to someone who claimed to
HIPAA Forms
HIPAA Form Basics Every Covered Entity Needs in 2026
Last year, a small orthopedic clinic in Virginia got a letter from HHS. Not the good kind. An investigation revealed they'd been using
HIPAA Privacy Rule
What Is the Privacy Rule for HIPAA? A Real-World Guide
In 2023, a dermatology practice in Massachusetts paid $150,000 to the Office for Civil Rights after a patient's medical photographs were disclosed
Business Associate
Which of These Entities Could Be a Business Associate?
A managed IT company in Tennessee gets hit with a $2.3 million settlement from HHS because a hospital never signed a business associate agreement
HIPAA Identifiers
HIPAA Identifier Explained: The 18 Data Points That Matter
A Spreadsheet, a Social Security Number, and a $1.5 Million Settlement In 2018, Anthem Inc. paid $16 million to the Office for Civil Rights