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How to Avoid Millions in HIPAA Fines: Expert Guide

Posted: December 2, 2016 to Compliance.

Tags: HIPAA, Compliance, NIST

If there was ever any doubt whether the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights (OCR) was focused on the HIPAA Business Associate Agreement, three recent settlements totaling $5.8 million prove they are. Additionally, the OCR has issued its first settlement against one of these Business Associates with a $650,000 fine for the Catholic Health Care Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Without a Business Associate Agreement in place, it is a violation of HIPAA regulations for a Covered Entity to transmit patient Protected Health Information (PHI) and for a Business Associate to receive it. Without one of these agreements in place, neither the Covered Entity nor the Business Associate has the right to transmit a patient’s PHI. Fortunately one of our partners, Kurtin PLLC, has written an updated "HIPAA Business Associate Agreement Best Practices," updated for 2016 that outlines solutions for those navigating the Business Associate Agreement requirement. Any HIPAA-regulated entities looking to avoid enforcement penalties can view the PDF here.

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About the Author

Craig Petronella, CEO and Founder of Petronella Technology Group
CEO, Founder & AI Architect, Petronella Technology Group

Craig Petronella founded Petronella Technology Group in 2002 and has spent more than 30 years working at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, compliance, and digital forensics. He holds the CMMC Registered Practitioner credential (RP-1372) issued by the Cyber AB, is an NC Licensed Digital Forensics Examiner (License #604180-DFE), and completed MIT Professional Education programs in AI, Blockchain, and Cybersecurity. Craig also holds CompTIA Security+, CCNA, and Hyperledger certifications.

He is an Amazon #1 Best-Selling Author of 15+ books on cybersecurity and compliance, host of the Encrypted Ambition podcast (95+ episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon), and a cybersecurity keynote speaker with 200+ engagements at conferences, law firms, and corporate boardrooms. Craig serves as Contributing Editor for Cybersecurity at NC Triangle Attorney at Law Magazine and is a guest lecturer at NCCU School of Law. He has served as a digital forensics expert witness in federal and state court cases involving cybercrime, cryptocurrency fraud, SIM-swap attacks, and data breaches.

Under his leadership, Petronella Technology Group has served 2,500+ clients, maintained a zero-breach record among compliant clients, earned a BBB A+ rating every year since 2003, and been featured as a cybersecurity authority on CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, and WRAL. The company leverages SOC 2 Type II certified platforms and specializes in AI implementation, managed cybersecurity, CMMC/HIPAA/SOC 2 compliance, and digital forensics for businesses across the United States.

CMMC-RP NC Licensed DFE MIT Certified CompTIA Security+ Expert Witness 15+ Books
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