What is the maximum penalty for a HIPAA violation involving willful neglect?

The maximum penalty for a HIPAA violation involving willful neglect is indeed $250,000 per violation. This level of penalty reflects the serious nature of willful neglect, which indicates that the covered entity or business associate knowingly violated HIPAA regulations or demonstrated a blatant disregard for compliance.

HIPAA establishes different tiers of violations, with escalating fines based on the severity and nature of the violation. Willful neglect suggests a conscious choice to not comply with the regulations, thereby justifying the higher monetary consequence. The $250,000 cap illustrates the legal system's intent to deter such egregious behavior, as it allows for significant financial repercussions that underline the importance of maintaining patient privacy and safeguarding health information.

The other options represent lower fines, which would apply to different categories of violations or lesser degrees of negligence. Therefore, they do not accurately reflect the maximum penalty for violations categorized under willful neglect.