OCR Settles Nineteenth Investigation Related to HIPAA Right of Access Initiative

June 11, 2021

OCR Settles Nineteenth Investigation Related to HIPAA Right of Access Initiative

HHSOCR has announced that it has settled its nineteenth enforcement actions related to its HIPAA Right of Access Initiative. As part of the settlement, Diabetes, Endocrinology & Lipidology Center, Inc. ('DELC'), agreed to take corrective actions and pay $5,000. OCR's investigation of DELC arose from a complaint from an individual alleging that she made requests for her minor child's protected health information but had not received her records. OCR determined through its investigation that the failure to provide the individual her minor patient's protected health information was a potential violation of the right of access standard. OCR Director, Robinsue Frohboese, noted that '[i]t should not take a federal investigation before a HIPAA covered entity provides a parent with access to their child's medical records. Covered entities owe it to their patients to provide timely access to medical records.'