Search Privacy Violations, Breaches and Complaints
This database was last updated in December 2015 ago and should only be used as a historical snapshot. More recent data on breaches affecting 500 or more people is available at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Breach Portal.
CLOVIS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER
Cited by the California Department of Public Health for a violation of California’s Health and Safety Code relating to medical privacy during an inspection that began on June 17, 2014. Also cited in 27 other reports.
Report ID: ZG1X11, California Department of Public Health
Reported Entity: CLOVIS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER
Issue:
Based on staff interview, clinical record, and administrative document review, the hospital failed to keep Protected Health Information (PHI) confidential when a billing statement for Patient 1 (P 1) was mailed to the wrong insurance company.This failure placed the PHI for P 1 at risk for possible unauthorized use.Findings:On 6/17/2014 at 10:29 a.m., during a telephone interview, the Privacy Officer (PO) stated P 1's billing statement was sent to P 1's ex husband's insurance company in error. The PO stated when P 1 registered for services, the Patient Representative (PR) added P 1's insurance as the primary insurance to be billed, but failed to remove P 1's ex husband's insurance as the secondary insurance to be billed. This resulted in both insurance companies receiving bills for service.Patient 1's PHI breached include: name, date of service, insurance information, and services received.The Hospital's Policy and Procedure titled, "HIPAA General Rules for the Use and Disclosure of PHI" dated 4/18/12 indicated, "Protected health information includes any information received, created or maintained by ... in which the patient is or may reasonably be identified, regardless of whether the information is in oral, paper or electronic form. It is the responsibility of all ... workforce members to comply with policies and procedures ... to identify problems that may cause security breaches."
Outcome:
Deficiency cited by the California Department of Public Health: Patients' Rights