HHS issues HIPAA advisory in wake of Katrina
HIPAA Weekly Advisor, September 12, 2005
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a September 2 advisory that clarified the HIPAA privacy rule for covered entities dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
The advisory reminded providers that they can share patient information as necessary, for the purposes of treatment, notification, resolution of imminent danger, and for facility directories. For situations of notification-in which covered entities attempt to notify family members or guardians of a patient's location, condition, or death-verbal consent must be given unless the patient is "incapacitated or not available."
The advisory also reminds providers that the HIPAA privacy rule applies only to covered entities; the American Red Cross, for instance, is not a covered entity and therefore, is not bound by the rule.
To view the full advisory, click here.
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