On September 9, 2019 the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced its first enforcement action and settlement of its Right of Access Initiative. This follows an OCR announcement earlier this year of its intention to vigorously enforce patients’ rights to promptly receive copies of their medical records, without being overcharged.

A 480 bed Florida hospital paid OCR $85,000 and adopted a corrective action plan in settlement of the claimed violation of HIPAA’s right of access because the hospital failed to provide a mother timely access to records about her unborn child.

Continue Reading OCR Settles First Case in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative