Health Information Management

Can we notify a person who’s been exposed to a communicable disease?

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, July 10, 2006

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIPAA Weekly Advisor!

You can disclose PHI without authorization to a person who may have been exposed to a communicable disease or may otherwise be at risk of contracting or spreading a disease/condition, as long as you are authorized by law to do so. Thus, such notification can be made if your state law or another federal law allows such notification.

For more information see Section 164.512(b) Uses and Disclosures for Public Health Activities of the privacy rule.

Editor's note: Attorneys from Bricker & Eckler, LLP, answered this question. This is not legal advice. Consult with your attorney for legal matters.



Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to HIPAA Weekly Advisor!

  • Briefings on APCs

    Worried about the complexities of the new rules under OPPS and APCs? Briefings on APCs helps you understand the new rules...

  • Medical Records Briefing

    Guiding Health Information Management professionals through the continuously changing field of medical records and toward a...

  • Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies

    Submitting improper Medicare documentaion can lead to denial of fees, payback, fines, and increased diligence from payers...

  • Briefings on HIPAA

    How can you minimize the impact of HIPAA? Subscribe to Briefings on HIPAA, your health information management resource for...

  • APCs Weekly Monitor

    This HTML-based e-mail newsletter provides weekly tips and advice on the new ambulatory payment classifications regulations...

Most Popular

Related Articles