- \n
- Covered entities, such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, as well as their business associates and subcontractors, must meet HIPAA requirements.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Civil penalties for HIPAA violations range from $141 to $71,162 per violation. Criminal penalties and prison terms may also apply.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In 2024 alone, the Office for Civil Rights collected nearly $12.8 million in civil penalties. For instance, Warby Parker was fined $1.5 million in 2025 for a breach precipitated by attacks against customer accounts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Unauthorized access, lack of risk analysis, delayed breach notifications, improper disposal of PHI, and cybersecurity incidents, such as those caused by phishing or ransomware, are common causes of HIPAA violations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Healthcare entities can meet and maintain HIPAA compliance by implementing access controls, user activity monitoring, third-party oversight, regular audits, and incident response measures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
What is HIPAA, and why does it matter?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act<\/a> (HIPAA) is a US law that establishes privacy standards for patients\u2019 medical records and health information. It was enacted in 1996 to protect patients, medical institutions, and healthcare providers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
HIPAA is a vital part of maintaining patient confidence in the healthcare system. HIPAA\u2019s safeguards protect patients from identity theft, fraud, and unauthorized use of their medical information while reinforcing the credibility of healthcare providers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The act defines how medical institutions, providers, and business associates must collect, store, and share patient health information. HIPAA violations can result in severe penalties and legal action; thus, it is essential for healthcare entities to understand and follow this law diligently.We\u2019ll take a closer look at the consequences of HIPAA violations later in this article, but first, let\u2019s examine the act\u2019s major rules that set the foundation for compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Achieving HIPAA Compliance with Syteca<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five key HIPAA rules<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
HIPAA standards allow patients to securely access their medical records, give them control over how their personal health information is used, and determine who can view and read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HIPAA has five key rules that establish policies and procedures for data security:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Key](\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/16090244\/1-What-is-a-HIPAA-violation-1024x336.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nPrivacy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The privacy rule<\/a> establishes standards for securing Protected Health Information<\/a> (PHI). This rule applies to all healthcare institutions and companies that retain PHI, as well as to their business associates. The rule defines safeguards to protect the privacy of PHI and sets limits and conditions on when such information may be used without authorization from a patient. The privacy rule also gives patients the right to access their own health information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Security<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The security rule<\/a> extends the privacy rule by establishing standards for handling electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI). This rule defines security measures and access policies for data at rest and in transit. Similar to the privacy rule, the security rule applies to any entity in possession of ePHI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Breach notification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The breach notification rule<\/a> defines the procedures that covered entities and business associates must follow when a breach of PHI occurs. It ensures transparency by requiring timely notification to impacted individuals, federal regulators, and, in certain cases, the public. The goal is to give patients the opportunity to protect themselves from the potential misuse of their data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Omnibus<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Omnibus rule<\/a> expands the responsibilities of business associates. It grants patients the right to access and receive electronic copies of their health information and prohibits the use of PHI for marketing and fundraising without authorization. The rule also updates breach notification requirements to ensure that individuals are informed when their data may have been compromised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Enforcement<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The enforcement rule<\/a> sets penalties for non-compliance with HIPAA\u2019s privacy and security rules. It also describes the procedures for investigations and public hearings related to data breaches that expose PHI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are countless ways to break HIPAA rules, depending on the type of institution, the nature of stored data, and the protection methods implemented or not implemented. Let\u2019s take a look at four tiers of HIPAA violations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
HIPAA violation tiers and penalties explained<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are four tiers of HIPAA violations, each with set minimum and maximum fines for every violation, as well as yearly limits for repeatedly violating the same requirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The minimum and maximum penalties for HIPAA violations are adjusted annually for inflation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services<\/a> (HHS). Here\u2019s the breakdown of four official inflation-adjusted civil penalty tiers (as of August 2024):<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nCivil penalties for HIPAA violations<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 1: Unintentional violation<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: If an entity broke HIPAA rules unknowingly and can prove it was unaware of the violation.<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: $141 to $71,162 per violation, with up to $471,709 annually<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 2: Reasonable cause<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: If an entity should have known about the violation through due diligence, but didn\u2019t properly act to prevent it.<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: $1,424 to $71,162 per violation, with up to $1,885,838 annually<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 3: neglect with timely correction<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: If an entity willfully neglected the violation but corrected it within 30 days after its discovery.<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: $14,232 to $71,162 per violation, with up to $4,714,595 annually<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 4: Willful neglect not corrected within 30 days<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: If an entity knew about the violation of HIPAA rules, willfully neglected it, and didn\u2019t fix it within the required time period.<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: $71,162 per violation, with up to $2,134,831 annually<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nData as of August 2024<\/a><\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n
As you can see, Tiers 1\u20133 carry graduated penalties for noncompliance with HIPAA. If an entity can prove that it was unaware of the violation or had a reason not to fix it, it can avoid major penalties. It\u2019s up to the Office for Civil Rights<\/a> (OCR) to determine appropriate HIPAA violation fines within the appropriate range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The OCR considers a number of factors when determining penalties, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The length of time the violation was allowed to persist<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The number of people affected<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The nature of the data exposed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The entity\u2019s willingness to assist OCR in the investigation<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Prior history of violations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The entity\u2019s financial condition<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The amount of harm caused by the violation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Severe HIPAA violations with grave impacts may result in criminal charges in addition to civil penalties. While civil penalties generally apply to covered entities and their business associates, criminal enforcement can target individuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s the tiered system of criminal HIPAA violation fines based on the circumstances of violations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nCivil penalties for HIPAA violations<\/p>\n\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 1: Basic offense<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: When an individual obtains, uses, or discloses personally identifiable health information, and knowingly violates HIPAA.<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: Up to $50,000 in HIPAA violation fines and up to 1 year in prison<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 2: Offense under false pretenses<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: When an individual obtains or discloses health data under false pretenses (for example, by misrepresenting one\u2019s identity or intent).<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: Up to $100,000 in HIPAA violation fines and up to 5 years in prison<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTier 3: Offense for profit or malicious harm<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDescription: When an individual violates HIPAA with the intent to sell, transfer, or use PHI for commercial advantage, personal gain, or with malicious intent.<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nPenalty: Up to $250,000 in HIPAA violation fines and up to 10 years in prison<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n
The Department of Justice<\/a> (DOJ) handles criminal HIPAA cases, and the final penalties are decided by courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Key statistics on healthcare data breaches and HIPAA violations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Healthcare is one of the most frequently breached industries, according to Verizon\u2019s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Due to the high value of private records, healthcare breaches also result in the highest average costs \u2014 $7.42 million per breach, according to the Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025<\/a> by IBM Security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the December 2024 Healthcare Data Breach Report<\/a> by the HIPAA Journal, in 2025, the OCR conducted 22 healthcare data breach investigations and collected $12,841,796 in penalties and settlements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2024, the OCR\u2019s largest civil penalty in the amount of $548,265 was issued to Children\u2019s Hospital Colorado Health System<\/a> following two data breaches. The first one, on July 11, 2017, occurred when a physician\u2019s email account was accessed after the IT help desk disabled two-factor authentication (2FA) for the account. The second breach, between April 6 and 13, 2020, involved unauthorized access to three employees\u2019 email accounts. Although those accounts were protected with 2FA, the safeguards were bypassed when employees mistakenly approved 2FA requests they had not made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/16094600\/2-What-is-a-HIPAA-violation-1024x385.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThe HIPAA Journal<\/a> defines the ten most common types of HIPAA violations that lead to financial penalties:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nTop 10 HIPAA violations that result in penalties<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n01<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nSnooping through healthcare records<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n02<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nInsufficient ePHI access controls<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n03<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nFailure to perform an organization-wide risk analysis<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n04<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nFailure to use encryption or equivalent measures to safeguard ePHI on portable devices<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n05<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nFailure to manage security risks<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n06<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nExceeding the 60-day deadline for issuing breach notifications<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n07<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nDenial of patients\u2019 access to health records<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n08<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nUnpermitted disclosures of protected health information<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n09<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nFailure to enter into a HIPAA-compliant business associate agreement<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t <\/div>\n\n\t \n\n\t \n\n\t \n\t \t\t\t<\/div>\n\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t \t<\/div>\n\t <\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n10<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\nImproper disposal of PHI<\/p>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t\t \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n
3 Real-life examples of non-compliance with HIPAA in 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Understanding HIPAA requirements is important in theory, but it’s also vital to know how violations occur in practice and realize the real consequences of violating HIPAA. Examples of healthcare entities that violated HIPAA and were penalized for it reveal the most common mistakes organizations make, the amount of penalties they face, and the lessons you can learn to avoid similar outcomes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Below are three cases from 2025 where the OCR imposed penalties on covered entities for HIPAA violations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Warby Parker, Inc.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/17012226\/logo-warby-parker.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/syteca_site_uploads.storage.googleapis.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/17012341\/logo-PIH-health.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/figure>\n\n \n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n \n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t