9b,; ?mus. ??nhmiab DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH Sr. HUMAN SERV ICES Voice - {312) 3362359 TDD (312) 353-5593 (FAX) - (312) 835-130? OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY Of?ce for Civil Rights, Region 233 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 241} Chicago, IL 6060] July 8, 2014 {bli?liblii?licl Re: . VA Clinic OCR Transaction Number: 14-1?0145 6 Dear l( On November 11, 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Of?ce for Civil Rights (OCR), received your complaint, alleging that the Belleville VA Clinic (Belleville Clinic), the covered entity, violated the Federal Standards for Privacy of Individually Identi?able Health Information andfor the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information (45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164, Subparts A, C, and E, the Privacy and Security Rules). Speci?cally, you allege that, on November 4, 2013, a nurse from Belleville Clinic failed to safeguard your protected health information (PHI) when she called you and discussed detailed information about your medical conditions with you, without verifying your identity. This allegation could reflect a violation of 45 C.F.R. Thank you for bringing this matter to attention. Your complaint is an integral part of OCR's enforcement efforts. OCR enforces the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and also Federal civil rights laws which prohibit discrimination in the delivery of health and human services because of race, color, national origin, disability, age, and under certain circumstances, sex and religion. A covered entity must maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent intentional or unintentional use or disclosure of PHI in violation of the Privacy Rule and to limit its incidental use and disclosure pursuant to otherwise permitted or required use or disclosure. 45 C.F.R. For example, such safeguards might include shredding documents containing protected health information before discarding them, securing medical records with lock and key or pass code, and limiting access to keys or pass codes. We have carefully reviewed your complaint against Believille Clinic and have determined to resolve this matter informally through the provision of technical assistance to Belleville Clinic. Should OCR receive a similar aliegation of noncompliance against Belleville Clinic in the future, OCR may initiate a formal investigation of that matter. For your informational purposes, OCR has enclosed material regarding the Privacy Rule provisions related to Safeguards. Based on the foregoing, OCR is closing this case without further action, effective the date of this letter. OCR's determination as stated in this letter applies only to the allegations in this complaint that were reviewed by OCR. Under the Freedom of Information Act, we may be required to release this letter and other information about this case upon request by the public. In the event OCR receives such a request, we will make every effort, as permitted by law, to protect information that identi?es individuals or that, if released, could constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Abby Bonjean, Investigator, at (312) 886-5895 (Voice) or (312) 353-5693 (TDD). Sincerely, rm- Celeste H. Davis Regional Manager Enclosure: Reasonable Safeguards Reasonable Safeguards 4S C.F.R. 164.530(c) A covered entity must have in place appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards that protect against uses and disclosures not permitted by the Privacy Rule, as well as that limit incidental uses or disclosures. See 45 C.F.R. It is not expected that a covered entity's safeguards guarantee the privacy of protected health information from any and all potential risks. Reasonable safeguards will vary from covered entity to covered entity depending on factors, such as the size of the covered entity and the nature of its business. In implementing reasonable safeguards, covered entities should analyze their own needs and circumstances, such as the nature of the protected health information it holds, and assess the potential risks to patients? privacy. Covered entities should also take into account the potential effects on patient care and may consider other issues, such as the financial and administrative burden of implementing particular safeguards. Many health care providers and professionals have long made it a practice to ensure reasonable safeguards for individuals? health information - for instance: -o By speaking quietly when discussing a patient?s condition with family members in a waiting room or other public area; a By avoiding using patients? names in public hallways and elevators, and posting signs to remind employees to protect patient con?dentiality; By isolating or locking ?le cabinets or records rooms; or By providing additional security, such as passwords, on computers maintaining personal information. Protection of patient confidentiality is an important practice for many health care and health information management professionals; covered entities can build upon those codes of conduct to develop the reasonable safeguards required by the Privacy Rule. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY it. a (312} 33642359 Of?ce for Civil Rights. Region TDD - (312) 353-5693 233 N. Michigan Ave, Suite 240 (FAX) - (312) 336-130? Chicago, IL 60601 a! It" July 8, 2014 Andrea Wilson, RHIA, CIPP, CIPPIG VHA Privacy Implementation Coordinator Information Access and Privacy Office- 10P2C1 Department of Veterans Affairs-Veterans Health Administration 810 Vermont Ave., NW Washington, DC 20420 .- OCR Transaction Number: 14-120145 Dear Ms. Wilson: On November 11, 2013, the US. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Of?ce for Civil Rights (OCR), received a complaint ?led by the complainant, alleging that Belleville VA Clinic (Belleville Clinic), the covered entity, has violated the Federal Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information andy?or the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information (45 C.F.R. Parts 160 and 164, Subparts A, c, and E, the Privacy and Security Rules). Speci?cally, alleges that, on November 4, 2013, a nurse from Belleville Clinic failed to safeguard his protected health information (PHI) when she called him and discussed detailed information about his medical conditions with him, without verifying his identity. This allegation could re?ect a violation of 45 C.F.R. OCR enforces the Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, and also Federal civil rights laws which prohibit discrimination in the delivery of health and human services because of race, color, national origin, disability, age, and under certain circumstances, sex and religion. In this matter, the complainant alleges that the covered entity does not employ reasonable safeguards to prevent impermissible disclosures of PHI. A covered entity must maintain reasonable and appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to prevent intentional or unintentional use or disclosure of PHI in violation of the Privacy Rule and to limit its incidental use and disclosure pursuant to otherwise permitted or required use or disclosure. 45 C.F.R. Pursuant to its authority under 45 C.F.R. 160.304(a) and OCR has determined to resolve this matter informally through the provision of technical assistance to Belleville Clinic. To that end, OCR has enclosed material explaining the Privacy Rule provisions related to Reasonable Safeguards. You are encouraged to review these materials closely and to share them with your staff as part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) training you provide to your workforce. You are also encouraged to assess and determine whether there may have been any noncompliance as alleged by the complainant in this matter, and, if so, to take the steps necessary to ensure such noncompliance does not occur in the future. In addition, OCR encourages you to review the facts of this individual's complaint and provide the individual the appropriate written response swiftly if necessary to comply with the requirements of the Privacy Rule. Should OCR receive a similar allegation of noncompliance against Belleville Clinic in the future, OCR may initiate a formal investigation of that matter. In addition, please note that, after a period of six months has passed, OCR may initiate and conduct a compliance review of Belleville Clinic related to your compliance with the Privacy Rule's provisions related to Reasonable Safeguards. Based on the foregoing, OCR is closing this case without further action, effective the date of this letter. determination as stated in this letter applies only to the allegations in this complaint that were reviewed by OCR. - Under the Freedom of Information Act, we may be required to release this letter and other information about this case upon request by the pubiic. In the event OCR receives such a request, we will make every effort, as permitted by law, to protect information that identi?es individuals or that, if released, could constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. If you have any questions regarding this matter, please contact Abby Bonjean, Investigator, at (312) 886-5395 (Voice) or (312) 353-5693 (TDD). Sincerely, Celeste H. Davis Regional Manager Enclosure: Reasonable Safeguards Reasonable Safeguards 45 C.F.R. 164.530(c) A covered entity must have in place appropriate administrative, technical, and physical safeguards that protect against uses and disclosures not permitted by the Privacy Rule, as well as that limit incidental uses or disclosures. See 45 C.F.R. It is not expected that a covered entity's safeguards guarantee the privacy of protected health information from any and ail potential risks. Reasonable safeguards will vary from covered entity to covered entity depending on factors, such as the size of the covered entity and the nature of its business. In implementing reasonable safeguards, covered entities should analyze their own needs and circumstances, such as the nature of the protected health information it holds, and assess the potential risks to patients? privacy. Covered entities should also take into account the potential effects on patient care and may consider other issues, such as the financial and administrative burden of implementing particular safeguards. Many health care providers and professionals have long made it a practice to ensure reasonable safeguards for individuals' health information for instance: - By speaking quietly when discussing a patient's condition with family members in a waiting room or other public area; - By avoiding using patients? names in public hallways and elevators, and posting signs to remind employees to protect patient con?dentiality; By isolating or locking ?le cabinets or records rooms; or By providing additional security, such as passwords, on computers maintaining personal information. Protection of patient confidentiality is an important practice for many health care and health information management professionals; covered entities can build upon those codes of conduct to develop the reasonable safeguards required by the Privacy Rule.