^{Posted by Scott Stein, Meenakshi Datta, and Catherine Kim}

A recent opinion examines the interplay between the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”) and the False Claims Act (“FCA”). Relators Pam Howard and Eben Howard filed a wrongful termination action against Arkansas Children’s Hospital – a covered entity under HIPAA – alleging that they were terminated after expressing concern about the hospital’s billing practices in violation of the FCA and several other statutes. The relators allege that they were terminated from their positions after raising concerns regarding the manner in which the hospital billed the federal government. The Howards shared with an attorney protected health information (“PHI”) that they had retained in anticipation of their lawsuit.

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