Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • About HHS
  • Programs & Services
  • Grants & Contracts
  • Laws & Regulations
  • Radical Transparency
  • Big Wins
  • HIPAA for Individuals
  • Filing a Complaint
  • HIPAA for Professionals
  • Newsroom
Breadcrumb
  1. HHS
  2. HIPAA Home
  3. For Professionals
  4. HIPAA Compliance and Enforcement
  5. Resolution Agreements
  6. Resolution Agreement - MA General Hospital
  • HIPAA for Professionals
  • Regulatory Initiatives
  • Privacy
    • Summary of the Privacy Rule
    • Guidance
    • Combined Text of All Rules
    • HIPAA Related Links
  • Security
    • Security Rule NPRM
    • Summary of the Security Rule
    • Security Guidance
    • Cyber Security Guidance
  • Breach Notification
    • Breach Reporting
    • Guidance
    • Reports to Congress
    • Regulation History
  • Compliance & Enforcement
    • Enforcement Rule
    • Enforcement Process
    • Enforcement Data
    • Resolution Agreements
    • Case Examples
    • Audit
    • Reports to Congress
    • State Attorneys General
  • Special Topics
    • HIPAA and Part 2
    • Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident FAQs
    • HIPAA and COVID-19
    • HIPAA and Reproductive Health
      • HIPAA and Final Rule Notice
    • HIPAA and Telehealth
    • HIPAA and FERPA
    • Research
    • Public Health
    • Emergency Response
    • Health Information Technology
    • Health Apps
  • Patient Safety
  • Covered Entities & Business Associates
    • Business Associate Contracts
    • Business Associates
  • Training & Resources
  • FAQs for Professionals
  • Other Administrative Simplification Rules

Resolution Agreement

Massachusetts General Hospital Settles Potential HIPAA Violations 

The General Hospital Corporation and Massachusetts General Physicians Organization, Inc. (Mass General) has agreed to pay the U.S. government $1,000,000 to settle potential violations of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

Mass General, one of the nation’s oldest and largest hospitals, signed a Resolution Agreement with HHS that requires it to develop and implement a comprehensive set of policies and procedures to safeguard the privacy of its patients. The settlement follows an extensive investigation by OCR.

“We hope the health care industry will take a close look at this agreement and recognize that OCR is serious about HIPAA enforcement.  It is a covered entity’s responsibility to protect its patients’ health information,” said OCR Director Georgina Verdugo.

The incident giving rise to the agreement involved the loss of protected health information (PHI) of 192 patients of Mass General’s Infectious Disease Associates outpatient practice, including patients with HIV/AIDS. OCR opened its investigation of Mass General after a complaint was filed by a patient whose PHI was lost on March 9, 2009. OCR’s investigation indicated that Mass General failed to implement reasonable, appropriate safeguards to protect the privacy of PHI when removed from Mass General’s premises and impermissibly disclosed PHI potentially violating provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. 

This impermissible disclosure involved the loss of documents consisting of a patient schedule containing names and medical record numbers for a group of 192 patients, and billing encounter forms containing the name, date of birth, medical record number, health insurer and policy number, diagnosis and name of providers for 66 of those patients.  These documents were lost on March 9, 2009, when a Mass General employee, while commuting to work, left the documents on the subway train. The documents were never recovered.

“To avoid enforcement penalties, covered entities must ensure they are always in compliance with the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules,” said Verdugo. “A robust compliance program includes employee training, vigilant implementation of policies and procedures, regular internal audits, and a prompt action plan to respond to incidents.”


Additional Information

  • Read the Resolution Agreement and CAP

  • Read the HHS Press Release



Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed July 26, 2013
Back to top

Subscribe to Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary and Press Releases.

Subscribe
  • Contact HHS
  • Careers
  • HHS FAQs
  • Nondiscrimination Notice
  • Press Room
  • HHS Archive
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Budget/Performance
  • Inspector General
  • Web Site Disclaimers
  • EEO/No Fear Act
  • FOIA
  • The White House
  • USA.gov
  • Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
HHS Logo

HHS Headquarters

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​

Follow HHS

Follow Secretary Kennedy