The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued a $4.3 m fine to a Maryland health care provider for violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The action is the first monetary fine issued since the Act was passed in 1996. Cignet Health care of Temple Hills, Maryland, failed to provide 41 patients with copies of their medical records and for failing to respond to requests from HHS s Office of Civil Rights for information related to the complaints. Following patient complaints, repeated efforts by HHS to inquire about the missing health records were ignored.
Source: https://threatpost.com/hipaa-bares-its-teeth-43m-fine-privacy-violation-022311/74960/