The indictment alleges that, on three separate occasions, Dr. Kaye informed one or more agents of a former patient’s employer that the patient was a serious and imminent threat to public safety, despite the patient’s discharge summary having indicated otherwise. Dr. Kaye was previously reprimanded by the Virginia Board of Medicine, with a fine of $5,000, for the same incident.
It's looks like state Attorney Generals may be cranking up the heat on HIPAA violations. With State's starving for revenue, I would not be surprised to see increased civil activity by AG's under the authority granted to them under the HITECH Act.
HHS has yet to announce how it intends to enforce HITECH (e.g. mandatory audits), but some sort of enforcement of privacy & security is mandatory if the U.S. intends to have a 21st century NHIN.
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