Benefits Think News You Can Use: HHS reaches first-ever monetary HIPAA settlement

On July 17, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a $100,000 settlement with Seattle-based Providence Health & Services for violations of the HIPAA privacy rules — a first-ever move for the agency. The violations involved lost and stolen computers containing patients’ health information. In addition to the monetary settlment, Providentce promised to “ensure that it will appropriately safeguard identifiable electronic patient information against theft and loss.”