In Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Jay Holland, Sarah Miller, and Candida Griffin were sentenced this week for violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). According to the U.S. Department of Justice press release, the three individuals plead guilty on July 20, 2009 “to misdemeanor violations of the health information privacy provisions [of HIPAA] based on their accessing a patient’s records without any legitimate purpose.” The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas stated that she hoped that the sentencings would “send the message that the HIPAA protections apply to every person in the community.”
Holland was sentenced to one year of probation, a $5000 fine, and 50 hours of community service while Miller and Griffin were sentenced to a $2500 and $1500 fine, respectively.
For more information, please contact Abby Pendleton, Esq., Jessica L. Gustafson, Esq. at (248) 996-8510, visit the HIPAA Specialty Page, or visit The HLP website.