[AKSillyYak]

We have a "rogue" accounting employee who has made comments about other employees' excessive health costs in front of other employees. Is this a reportable HIPAA violation?

[ScottGem]

Probably not. Unless the employee discussed the nature of the treatment being given, its probably not going run afoul of HIPAA. However, it is a serious breach of business ethics and this employee should be terminated.

[Fr_Chuck]

Do you work for a healthcare company ? HIPPA applies to health care providers.

Are they giving details about the actual care, not that iti merely excessive costs.

[ScottGem]

The only way this might be a HIPAA violation is because medical insurance info needs to be kep confidential. So the question becomes how did this employee get the info.

[trmpldonagn]

Is it safe to assume that he got this info because he does the accounting? That is a breach of business ethics but a HIPA violation would be if someone talks about the persons care. If for example someone works at a hospital, you cannot even tell someone that a person is in the hospital with very very few exceptions and under extreme circumstances which have to be approved by a super or a manager. You definitely cannot talk about why a patient is being treated and/or what for. Grounds for immediate dismissal. You can let H.R. know what you are hearing but I would try to keep it anonymous. Maybe a letter or something. You don't need someone trying to be vindictive or get you fired.