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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HUM SERVICES 0m? on?! 3&3th

 

Voice - (214) 76?-4056. (300] 363-1019
TDD - {214) 76?-3940. {800} 537-7697
Fax - (214) TNT-D432




Of?ce for Civil Rights, Region VI
1361 Young Street. Suite 1169
Dallas, TX ?5202

 

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Our Reference number: 

Dear {octets}

Thank you for your complaint, which was received by the US. Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS), Of?ce for Civil Rights (OCR), on May 25, 2014. In your complaint,
you allege a violation of the Federal Standards for Privacy of Individually Identi?able Health
Information andjor the Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health
Information (45 CPR. Parts 160 and 164, Subarts A, C, and E, the Privacy and Security
Rules). Speci?cally, you allege that veterans bene?t record has been breached.

 

OCR enforces the Privacy and Security Rules, and also enforces Federal civil rights laws which
prohibit discrimination in the delivery of health and human sendees because of race, color,
national origin, disability, age, and under certain circumstances, sex and religion.

As discussed on the telephone, the Privacy Rule only applies to protected health
information maintained by an entity subject to HIPAA. Although the Veterans Health
Administration is subject to the requirements of HIPAA, the involved record does not appear to
be a patient record created or maintained by the Veterans Health Administration. Rather, it
appears to be created and maintained by the Veterans Bene?ts Administration, a separate entity
that is not under the jurisdiction of OCR.

You may wish to contact the Veterans Bene?t Administration directly regarding your concerns:
Veterans Bene?ts Administration
Attention: Chalmer Rennie, Privacy Of?cer
1800 G. Street
Washington, DC 20006

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 Jamie Sorley, Investigator, at
(214) 767-8903 (Voice), (214) 767-8940, (300) 537-7697 (TDD).

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