---
title: "45 CFR 160.316 HIPAA: Refraining from intimidation or retaliation"
canonical: "https://dposchool.com/hipaa/section/160.316"
source: "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-160.316"
source_note: "Source: United States Code, title 42, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: United States Code, title 42, published by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives (uscode.house.gov), release point 119-136. The editorial and statutory notes are not reproduced. Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), title 45, up to date as of 29 October 2026, from the eCFR API (ecfr.gov). The eCFR is an editorial compilation of the CFR and Federal Register amendments, not an official legal edition of the CFR."
text_as_of: "2026-10-29"
language: "en"
publisher: "DPO School"
---

45 CFR 160.316 HIPAA · Part 160: GENERAL ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS · Subpart C: Compliance and Investigations

# 45 CFR 160.316 HIPAA: Refraining from intimidation or retaliation

eCFR, up to date as of 29 October 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.

## Official text

A covered entity or business associate may not threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass, discriminate against, or take any other retaliatory action against any individual or other person for—

### 45 CFR 160.316(a)

**(a)** Filing of a complaint under § 160.306;

### 45 CFR 160.316(b)

**(b)** Testifying, assisting, or participating in an investigation, compliance review, proceeding, or hearing under this part; or

### 45 CFR 160.316(c)

**(c)** Opposing any act or practice made unlawful by this subchapter, provided the individual or person has a good faith belief that the practice opposed is unlawful, and the manner of opposition is reasonable and does not involve a disclosure of protected health information in violation of subpart E of part 164 of this subchapter.

## Source

Source: Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), title 45, up to date as of 29 October 2026, from the eCFR API (ecfr.gov). The eCFR is an editorial compilation of the CFR and Federal Register amendments, not an official legal edition of the CFR.

Source credit: \[71 FR 8424, Feb. 16, 2006, as amended at 78 FR 5691, Jan. 25, 2013\]

[45 CFR 160.316 on eCFR](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/section-160.316)

eCFR, up to date as of 29 October 2026. Retrieved 30 October 2026.

This is reference material, not legal advice.

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[HIPAA Navigator](https://dposchool.com/hipaa) / 45 CFR 160.316

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