Group Accused of Violating HIPAA After Boston Bombings
The Boston Police Patrolmen's Association recently accused the Boston Public Health Commission of violating the the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Privacy Rule by requesting personal medical information from health care providers about victims treated in the aftermath of the April 15 marathon bombings without patient consent. The Police Association has issued letters to the 40 or so hospitals and clinics contacted by the commission, threatening to sue if they comply with the request for information. In addition, the association has sent the commission a "cease and desist" letter, demanding that the organization destroys any information it has gathered so far.
- "HIPAA Dispute After Marathon Bombing" (Kolbasuk McGee, Healthcare Info Security, 5/16).