Health Information Management

HIPAA Q&A: Information on ID badges

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, September 14, 2009

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Q. I occasionally work at a facility that issues all contractors/business associates an ID badge with the person’s name and his or her tuberculosis test expiration date. On the surface, this practice appears to violate HIPAA because this information is considered PHI. Is this practice acceptable?

A.
Yes, this is an acceptable practice. Simply listing a date on which a test must be administered does not violate an individual’s privacy because the badge does not display any information about test results.

Editor’s note: Mary D. Brandt, MBA, RHIA, CHE, CHPS, answered this question. This is not legal advice. Consult your attorney regarding legal matters.



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