Skip to main content
 HHS.gov
 Search
 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
  Search Close
 A-Z Index
 About HHS
Programs & Services
Grants & Contracts
Laws & Regulations
 Home > About > News > OCR Settles Eighth Investigation in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative
 Text Resize  
                                A
                                A
                                A
                            Print
                            Share
 Search News Releases
View 2016 - 1991 archive
 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOctober 7, 2020Contact: HHS Press Office202-690-6343[email protected]OCR Settles Eighth Investigation in HIPAA Right of Access InitiativeThe Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces that it has settled its eighth enforcement action in its HIPAA Right of Access Initiative.  OCR announced this initiative as an enforcement priority in 2019 to support individuals' right to timely access to their health records at a reasonable cost under the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
Dignity Health, doing business as St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center (“SJHMC”), has agreed to take corrective actions and pay $160,000 to settle a potential violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule's right of access provision.  SJHMC, based in Phoenix, Arizona, is a large, acute care hospital with several hospital-based clinics that provide a wide range of health, social, and support services.
On April 25, 2018, OCR received a complaint from a mother alleging that beginning in January 2018, she made multiple requests to SJHMC for a copy of her son’s medical records, as his personal representative.  SJHMC provided some of the requested records, but despite the mother’s follow up requests in March, April, and May 2018, SJHMC did not provide all of the requested records. OCR initiated an investigation and determined that SJHMC’s actions were a potential violation of the HIPAA right of access standard.  As a result of OCR’s investigation, SJHMC sent all of the requested medical records to the mother on December 19, 2019, more than 22 months after her initial request.
“It shouldn’t take a federal investigation to secure access to patient medical records, but too often that’s what it takes when health care providers don’t take their HIPAA obligations seriously.  OCR has many right of access investigations open across the country, and will continue to vigorously enforce this right to better empower patients,” said Roger Severino, OCR Director.
In addition to the monetary settlement, SJHMC will undertake a corrective action plan that includes two years of monitoring.  The resolution agreement and corrective action plan may be found at: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sjhmc-racap.pdf*.
*People using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights at (800) 368-1019, TDD toll-free: (800) 537-7697, or by emailing [email protected].###Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other news materials are available at https://www.hhs.gov/news.Like HHS on Facebook, follow HHS on Twitter @HHSgov, and sign up for HHS Email Updates.Last revised: October 7, 2020 Sign Up for News Release UpdatesEnter your email:
Email Subscribe to RSSReceive latest updates Related News ReleasesOCR Settles Thirteenth Investigation in HIPAA Right of Access Initiative
  OCR Issues Guidance on HIPAA, Health Information Exchanges, and Disclosures of Protected Health Information for Public Health Purposes
  OCR Issues Audit Report on Health Care Industry Compliance with the HIPAA Rules Related Blog PostsHHS Blog thumbnail  
  Spotlight on Naloxone Co-Prescribing
          HHS Blog thumbnail  
  Now is the time: Catch-up to Get Ahead on Childhood Immunizations
          HHS Blog thumbnail  
  Health Providers: Join the Telehealth Revolution
 Public Affairs Contacts
HHS Media InformationASPA Press ContactsHHS Agency Press Contacts
**View all**
 Connect With Us
 Sign Up for Email Updates To sign up for updates or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below. Email
 HHS Headquarters U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
						200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
						Washington, D.C. 20201
						Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​
 Contact HHS
                        Careers
                        HHS FAQs
                        Nondiscrimination Notice
 HHS Archive
                        Accessibility
                        Privacy Policy
                        Viewers & Players
 Budget/Performance
                        Guidance Portal 
                        Inspector General
                        EEO/No Fear Act
 FOIA
                        The White House
                        USA.gov


Back to *T*op