State officials fined Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare Services $95,000 for alleged patient confidentiality violations that occurred at its Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding, Calif., in 2010, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
The California Department of Public Health imposed the fine after determining that the medical center had five deficiencies related to the unauthorized disclosure of medical information on a diabetes patient treated there. According to the report, the patient's medical files were shared with journalists when Shasta Regional was seeking to respond to a story published by California Watch, a non-profit news organization that featured the patient, Darlene Courtois, and allegations that the hospital was overbilling Medicare. In addition, an email about the patient's treatment was allegedly sent to 785 employees at Shasta Regional.
Prime Healthcare tried to appeal the state's findings and penalties, citing Shasta Regional's belief that the disclosures were permitted under federal and state law.
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The California Department of Public Health imposed the fine after determining that the medical center had five deficiencies related to the unauthorized disclosure of medical information on a diabetes patient treated there. According to the report, the patient's medical files were shared with journalists when Shasta Regional was seeking to respond to a story published by California Watch, a non-profit news organization that featured the patient, Darlene Courtois, and allegations that the hospital was overbilling Medicare. In addition, an email about the patient's treatment was allegedly sent to 785 employees at Shasta Regional.
Prime Healthcare tried to appeal the state's findings and penalties, citing Shasta Regional's belief that the disclosures were permitted under federal and state law.
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