The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a federal law in the United States that sets standards for the protection of sensitive health information. Compliance with HIPAA regulations is not only crucial for maintaining patient privacy and data security but also for avoiding severe penalties and legal consequences. In this blog, we will explore the penalties associated with non-compliance with HIPAA.
Civil Monetary Penalties (CMPs)
HIPAA violations can result in significant civil monetary penalties imposed by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the agency responsible for enforcing HIPAA regulations. The penalties are tiered based on the level of negligence (the following monetary penalties are not adjusted for inflation):
- Tier 1: If an organization was unaware of the violation and could not have reasonably avoided it, the penalty ranges from $100 to $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
- Tier 2: If the violation was due to reasonable cause but not willful neglect, the penalty ranges from $1,000 to $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
- Tier 3: If the violation was due to willful neglect but corrected within a specified time, the penalty ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
- Tier 4: If the violation was due to willful neglect and not corrected, the penalty is a minimum of $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million.
Criminal Penalties
In addition to civil penalties, HIPAA violations can result in criminal charges and penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the offense. Criminal penalties are enforced by the Department of Justice and can lead to imprisonment, fines, or both:
- Wrongful Disclosure or Obtaining PHI: Knowingly obtaining or disclosing PHI without authorization can result in criminal penalties of up to one year in prison and fines of up to $50,000.
- False Pretenses: Obtaining PHI under false pretenses can result in penalties of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $100,000.
- Intent to Sell, Transfer, or Use PHI for Personal Gain or Harm: Using PHI with the intent to sell, transfer, or use it for personal gain, malicious harm, or commercial advantage can lead to penalties of up to ten years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
In addition to these penalties, non-compliance with HIPAA can have far-reaching consequences for healthcare organizations, including legal expenses, reputational damage, and loss of business opportunities.
As part of our outside general counsel services, we provide strategies to help your healthcare organization become HIPAA compliant. If you are interested in learning more about engaging our services as outside general counsel for your healthcare organization, call us today at 703-558-9311 or complete the contact form here to schedule an initial consultation with our office.