Pharmacy Penalized After Prescription Drug Information and Patient Privacy Compromised
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The protection of private prescription drug and patient information is a concern among many patients. After a four year examination conducted by the U.S. HHS (Department of Health and Human Services), pharmacy giant Rite Aid has agreed to pay $1 million to settle patient privacy violations.
A 2006 drug prescription privacy investigation initiated by channel WTHR discovered that Rite Aid was negligently discarding patient information. Reports and video coverage documented improper prescription drug disposal at Walgreens, Rite Aid and other pharmacies. Reports revealed that patient information and drug labels were discarded into unsecured refuse containers, compromising patient privacy.
Who Regulates Pharmaceutical Drug Privacy?
In the United States, patient privacy regulations are regulated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In addition to paying the HIPPA violation settlement, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) and the HHS have mandated documented procedures to safeguard patient information and a full scale training program for all pharmacy employees.
The pharmacy must also conduct internal monitoring and consent to an independent assessment every three years. Rite Aid sells prescription drugs through its 4,800 national pharmacies.
Improper prescription drug and medication disposal and patient privacy violations are ongoing concerns. This settlement marks the second-largest settlement of its kind. In 2009, pharmacy giant CVS was charged for violating patient HIPPA “prescription privacy” regulations and was required to pay a $2.25 million dollar settlement.
Under the HIPAA Act, pharmacies must protect sensitive financial and medical patient information and dispose of prescription drug labels and sheets securely.
