Health Information Management

OCR releases new complaint fact sheet and form, posts summary of privacy rule

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, April 18, 2003

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The OCR released a new fact sheet April 11 on how to file a privacy complaint, along with PDF and Microsoft Word versions of complaint forms. The fact sheet also provides contact information for OCR regional offices.

Complaints must

  • be filed in writing, either on paper or electronically
  • name the entity that is the subject of the complaint, and must describe the acts or omissions believed to be in violation of the applicable requirements of the privacy rule
  • be filed within 180 days of the act or omission cited in the complaint. OCR may extend the 180-day period if you can show "good cause." Any alleged violation must have occurred on or after April 14, 2003 (on or after April 14, 2004 for small health plans), for OCR to have authority to investigate.

OCR also posted a summary of the privacy rule, which lists key elements of the rule.

Go to http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/howtofileprivacy.htm for the complaint fact sheet and form and http://www.hipaapro.com/news/hipaa_downloads.cfm to download a PDF of the privacy rule summary.



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