Sample HIPAA Violation Letter to Collection Agency

Medical bills can pile up fast, especially if you're dealing with ongoing health-related issues. So, where can you find a to use when some of those medical bills show up on your credit report? What if the collection agency posts information that you didn't authorize? Do you have recourse?

HIPAA laws govern the privacy requirements for patient data as it's shared between entities. And in the event your doctor's office or procedure invoice went unpaid and sent to collections, it's going to show up on your credit report. But in some cases, bills go to collections only because insurance payouts took too long or court proceedings held up financial decisions. In other cases, patients had no clue a bill even went to collections, as it just slipped through the cracks. Regardless of what caused your current dilemma, you just know you need a sample HIPAA violation letter so you can take action.

As you try to explore your online options, you immediately realize there are tons of sample HIPAA dispute letters from which to choose. But how do you really know which is the right one to use? And do you just send it to the collection agency in question, or do you need to send it out to the credit bureaus, as well? It's so complicated that you just which there was a magic button to push to make it all happen.

And technically, DoNotPay has just the one-click solution you're looking for in your quest to get those medical bills off your credit report using a HIPAA violation letter.

What Is HIPAA All About, Anyway?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, also commonly called HIPAA, is the federal mandate that governs how companies and entities are required to protect patient and individual data, patient health information specifically. How this sensitive information is shared between providers, networks, departments, and even collection agencies, is measured by the HIPAA standards of privacy. And when a collections agency for medical bills posts an entry to your credit report, you can explore your options by sending a HIPAA violation letter to the collection agency directly.

What Instances Would You Need a HIPAA Violation Letter?

There are plenty of scenarios in which HIPAA violations could result in damaging entries on your credit report. HIPAA credit dispute letters are the best way forward. But to help you understand what violations might apply, here's a list to consider:

Release of the wrong patient's information
Publicity of the unauthorized health information
Missing signatures on HIPAA forms

How to Dispute a HIPAA Violation

In general, HIPAA violations on your credit report aren't regulated by HIPAA at all. The FCRA regulates credit reporting of medical bills and HIPAA discrepancies. And in most instances, individuals can pursue a variety of violation or dispute letters to send to the collection agency, requesting the item be removed from your report. In addition to a HIPAA credit dispute letter, you might also look to submit HIPAA violation letters. But know, sending an official letter is the best first course of action.

How to Write a HIPAA Dispute Letter on Your Own

Every HIPAA dispute letter or violation letter is required to consist of a few key elements. Prepare your information, and check out the table below.

Breach Notification

In your HIPAA violation letter to the collection agency, you'll want to open directly with your claim of breach. Cite the code, too, for wrongful disclosure of an individual's identifiable health information - 42 U.S. Code § 1320d–6. Describe the circumstances of the breach, including when you found it and what personal health info (PHI) was listed on your credit report collections agency entry.

Optional Details to Include

Here is some sample language you can incorporate into your letter, as well:

I am requesting that [collection agency name] provide debt validation for [account number listed on the credit report.]
If [collection agency name] cannot provide adequate validation within the 30-day timeframe, all associated debts should be immediately removed from all three primary credit reporting bureaus.
I request all further correspondence regarding this medical debt collection be sent via mail. [include your mailing address] Do not contact me by phone.

Tips for Best HIPAA Violation Letter Results

Be clear and concise in your HIPAA dispute letter, especially when you describe what action you need the collection agency to take. Here are a few other helpful tips and reminders:

Be prepared with original bill copies and account numbers
Be patient, as it could very well take up to 30 days to see a response
Stick to the facts, no matter how personal the medical issues, billing, and credit position may be
Be polite, no matter how upset and frustrated you might be

See a Sample HIPAA Violation Letter to Collection Agency Below

Your HIPAA violation letter will look like this, but include all the information you gathered, above.

[Date]

From:

Your information

Mailing address

Contact phone numbers

Email Address

Any account numbers that apply

To:

The collection agency name

Their address

To Whom it May Concern;

[Body]

The body of this letter will explain everything going on with your account. Remember to keep a professional tone.

Sincerely,

Your name & signature

What If You Can't Handle the HIPAA Violation Letter Yourself?

If you have HIPAA violations plaguing your credit report, you need remedies fast. And if you've tried to submit your sample HIPAA violation letter to a collection agency to no avail, you'll wonder what your next steps are. Make sure you didn't forget to:

Send your HIPAA violation letter by certified mail
Do not copy/paste a generic dispute letter from the web
Document invoice amounts, dates, and details for easy reference

Solve the HIPAA Violation Problem with DoNotPay

Lose the collections agency account on your credit report with the proper execution of a HIPAA violation letter, the easy way with DoNotPay.

How to clean up the collection agency accounts on your credit report using the DoNotPay solution:

If you truly want to clean your credit report but aren't sure where to start, DoNotPay has you covered in three super easy steps:

Search Clean Credit Report on DoNotPay.
Prepare a most recent copy of your credit report that you can use as reference.
Let us guide you through the four potentially available options:

If you've already paid off your debt entirely, we'll help you file a Goodwill Removal Request to get it removed.
If you notice any specific errors in your report (we have a list of common errors you can reference,) we'll help you file a credit dispute to the creditor or the major credit bureaus.
If your report is error-free, we'll check to see if you're still eligible to file a debt validation request. If the organization can't validate your debt, they're required to remove it from your report, and they can't collect it!
Lastly, if none of the above available options work, we'll keep going and help you file a pay-to-delete negotiation letter. You can even customize the amount you are willing to pay in exchange for getting the item removed.

You can also explore our other credit-related products, including Credit Limit Increase, Get My Credit Report, Keep Unused Cards Active, and more!

Why Should You Use DoNotPay for HIPAA Disputes?

You should use DoNotPay for any HIPAA disputes with collection agencies because it's:

Fast—You don't have to spend hours trying to find sample letters to submit.
Easy—You don't have to struggle to fill out tedious forms or know the lingo to get results.
Successful—Collection agencies and credit bureaus pay attention to documents sent by attorneys like DoNotPay.

DoNotPay Can Remove Other Accounts from Your Credit Report, Too

You'll realize just how hassle-free and easy it is to get the collection agencies off your report for medical bills and HIPAA violations that you'll wonder what other things DoNotPay can remove from your credit report for you. DoNotPay can get other items off your report, too, with products to help:

Remove other collection agency accounts from your credit report
Remove late payment entries on your credit report
Remove hard and soft inquiries on your credit report

What Else Can DoNotPay Fix for You?

As it turns out, DoNotPay has a full suite of easy-to-use products designed to make light work of almost any complicated, tedious, or intimidating task. Check out some of the other problems we can solve, like:

Submit financial aid appeal letters
Get help with paying your household bills
Cancel unwanted subscriptions
Discover other ways to fix your credit report
Send debt validation letters to creditors

If you're concerned about a HIPAA violation with a collection agency entry on your credit report, let DoNotPay get it handled. We can help you with a , all the way through to final determination and removal from your report!