Postal Letter

Is the United States Postal Service responsible under the HIPAA Act?

My post office keeps delivering my mail to a business that opens all the mail and then reseals it with tape and then it is delivered to my home by the post office, There are banking information along with my personal medical information that has been opened along with credit card bills that are delivered late causing late fees, etc. The 2 addresses are differentiated by a street designation of example a E for east. I rarely ever get their mail as mine is always delivered there and I have spoken many times to the local post master concerning this issue.

Public Comments

1. The HIPAA act only applies to health care companies.
2. A creative lawyer may be able to associate HIPAA with this. But you seem to have a definite possbility for several lawsuits. Make sure that you are documenting every conversation you have with the Post Office. Also, contact the business (and document it) if you haven't already done that. Make sure that they are aware of the situation. It is a federal crime to knowingly open mail addressed to someone else. So, if they have been informed of this situation, and they continue to do it, they certainly can be held liable. You probably should contact the main Post Office in your area. Also contact your carrier & the carrier for the business (wait outside for them to show up, if necessary).