Health Information Management

HIPAA hinders charity work meant to help burn victims in CA

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, November 1, 2004

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The Burn Institute has $100,000 to use toward counseling, financial aid, and other support for the 22 people seriously burned in the fires in California this past summer, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. But because of HIPAA privacy regulations, the Institute cannot find or contact all the patients.

Instead of speaking directly to the victims, the Institute's Executive Director Jim Flores must go through the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center to pass the information to the patients. The UCSD center has a list of all the burn victims but cannot release it to the Burn Institute because of HIPAA regulations.

Some patients don't respond to the indirect method, Flores told the Union-Tribune. Others don't know that the money is meant to help their recovery. Flores encourages these patients to come forward. To contact the Burn Institute, go to its Web site or call 858/541-2277. Flores will verify that those who come forward actually qualify for the aid.



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