Gulf Coast Pain Consultants

Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced a $1.19 million civil monetary penalty against Gulf Coast Pain Consultants, LLC d/b/a Clearway Pain Solutions Institute (Gulf Coast Pain Consultants) in Florida, concerning violations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Security Rule, following receipt of a breach report that a former contractor for the company had impermissibly accessed their electronic record system. OCR enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, which set forth the requirements that health plans, health care clearinghouses, and most health care providers, and their business associates must follow to protect the privacy and security of protected health information (PHI). The HIPAA Security Rule establishes national standards to protect and secure our health care system by requiring administrative, physical and technical safeguards to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and security of electronic PHI (ePHI). “Current and former workforce can present threats to health care privacy and security—risking continuity of care and trust in our health car