Security News > 2020 > January > Georgia Man Charged With Making 'Fake' HIPAA Violation Claims

In a bizarre "Whistleblower" case, federal prosecutors have charged a Georgia man in connection with an alleged "Intricate scheme" involving falsely reporting that a Savannah hospital worker committed criminal HIPAA violations.

The U.S. Department of Justice says Jeffrey Parker, 43, who initially "Claimed to be a whistleblower," has been charged with falsely reporting that a "Former acquaintance" violated HIPAA by committing patient privacy violations.

Adam Greene, an attorney with Davis Wright Tremaine, says the case shows "The extent that HIPAA has entered the mainstream that we now have at least one case of someone allegedly fabricating a criminal HIPAA violation."

Some HIPAA experts say the Georgia case is quite unusual.

Independent HIPAA attorney Paul Hales notes: "Key takeaways are the FBI's speed in investigating the defendant's claim that someone committed a HIPAA crime and the Department of Justice's commitment to HIPAA criminal enforcement. The case stems from defendant's alleged attempt to cause trouble for a former acquaintance. But he left an electronic trail leading right back to him - and there is always an electronic trail."

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/georgia-man-charged-making-fake-hipaa-violation-claims-a-13598