Penalty for false pretenses under privacy rule violations?

Penalty for false pretenses under privacy rule violations?

• A. $50,000 fine and up to 1 year
• B. $250,000 fine and up to 10 years
• C. $100,000 fine and up to 5 years
• D. $500,000 fine and up to 20 years

Answer: (C)

False pretenses means obtaining protected health information by deception. The criminal penalties for this specific act are a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment of up to one year. Higher penalties exist, but they apply to different circumstances—such as obtaining PHI with intent to sell or use for personal gain (up to $100,000 and up to five years) or more serious, aggravated offenses (up to $250,000 and up to 10 years). So for false pretenses alone, the penalty is the lower amount: up to $50,000 and up to one year. Higher figures relate to other, more harmful privacy violations.

False pretenses means obtaining protected health information by deception. The criminal penalties for this specific act are a fine of up to $50,000 and imprisonment of up to one year. Higher penalties exist, but they apply to different circumstances—such as obtaining PHI with intent to sell or use for personal gain (up to $100,000 and up to five years) or more serious, aggravated offenses (up to $250,000 and up to 10 years). So for false pretenses alone, the penalty is the lower amount: up to $50,000 and up to one year. Higher figures relate to other, more harmful privacy violations.