It is probably no surprise to most that the recent changes in healthcare facilities in Hot Springs County were well contested. Hot Springs Health, at the time operating as Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital, and their business partner, Gottsche Therapy and Wellness, were requesting assistance from the tax payers to fund a massive rebuild. Initially, Hot Springs Health had previously went to the residents of Hot Springs County and were vehemently denied by most.
Many though probably were never informed of any opposition or previous ethical infractions due to apparent bias from the local newspaper, the Thermopolis Independent Record. As the main news source in Hot Springs at that time, despite information to the contrary, chose to only publish and report so called "facts" or events that painted Hot Springs Health in a positive light. A matter of public health and confidentiality at a time when it was most contemporaneous was, for unknown reasons, withheld from the public.
Despite multiple town hall meetings where "soft ball" questions were the only topics answered by Hot Springs Health administration, there was and is a growing and vigorous opposition to Hot Springs Health and it's current administration. A complete overhaul of the building structure for both Gottsche and Hot Springs Health unfortunately did not include a makeover of the oversight in ethics that lead to the 2017 HIPAA citation. Why has Hot Springs Health not communicated publicly about the breach of PHI? Why have they not informed the public or the victim of that breach of the actions they have taken to correct the breach? How many innocent patients, were affected that are unknown because Hot Springs Health and their affiliates fail time and again to comply with HIPAA laws? We may never know. But, we do have options. As residents, as patients, and as citizens, we have a right and privilege to answers to all of these questions. If you are a former or current patient of Hot Springs Health, Gottsche Therapy and Wellness, or the Pioneer Home, all of whom employ administrators and healthcare workers responsible for the initial 2017 breach of medical information, your federally protected confidential information may be at risk. If you are a former or current donor to either of these facilities, your generous donation may be being used for nefarious non-business related expenses referred in clandestine recordings of Gottsche board member meetings as "after hour" personal enterprises. Through hours of research we have compiled a list of contacts for state and federal agencies where patients and residents can direct their questions and concerns, as well as file official complaints. It is our hope here at Hot Springs Health Reform that through education, and collaboration, Hot Springs Health and Gottsche Therapy and Wellness will provide a transparent and ethical mode of healthcare that residents of Wyoming can take pride and have trust in. The following is a thorough, yet not exhaustive list of agencies and contacts you can reach out to with your concerns of the ongoing unaddressed HIPAA issues, as well as concerns of the funding of these institutions: Wyoming Department of Health- Division of Privacy, Security and Contacts https://health.wyo.gov/contact/ David Robinson, Policy Administrator Email: wdh-hipaa@wyo.gov Phone: (307) 777-7656 State Long Term Care Ombudsman Dawn Marie Thacker, Regional Ombudsman 106 E. Adams Ave Riverton, WY 82501 Phone 307-856-6880 or toll free 1-800-856-4398 Email dawn.thacker@wyo.gov Gottsche Grant Funder
The Daniels Fund 303.393.7220 or 877.791.4726 Info@DanielsFund.org
Office of Civil Rights (Reporting for and information related to violations of HIPAA) https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/filing-a-complaint/index.html If you donated to Gottsche, or Hot Springs Health and have concerns regarding how your donations was used, you can file a report with the IRS using the below link: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/irs-complaint-process-tax-exempt-organizations
Additionally, you can request records regarding HIPAA violations, and other related public health information through the Freedom Of Information Act:
https://requests.publiclink.hhs.gov/App/Index.aspx
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