The HIPAA Privacy Rule

What Protected Health Information, PHI, can your practice share without receiving a patient’s consent? Does your practice need special agreements in place before sharing patient information? What rights do patients have regarding their PHI? These are all questions covered and addressed under HIPAA’s Privacy Rule. The Privacy Rule creates specific standards to protect patient information.

Patient privacy continues to evolve and practices must follow strict guidelines in order to protect patient information and the practice’s reputation. In order to comply with HIPAA Law, you must have specific policies and procedures in place to properly control, disclose and protect PHI. HIPAA’s Privacy Rule defines specific rights for individuals regarding their PHI and obligates covered entities and their business associates to comply with protecting their information.

As a general rule, patients must authorize any disclosure of their PHI. This includes all individually identifiable health information. However, HIPAA’s Privacy Rule is not designed to interfere with the treatment of patients. Doctors, nurses, dentists, labs, specialists and other healthcare providers can all freely discuss treatment plans and health status. They can share information to treat us, get paid, and run routine healthcare operations. This is referred to as TPO, defined as Treatment, Payment and Healthcare Operations.

However, patients do have rights. It makes sense because it’s their private information that’s at risk.

[mikeevans]

My wife just had an episode, in which an ambulance was called . In my state, a police presence is SOP, before the ambulance arrives ( good idea, in my opinion ) . As the EMT's were checking her out, the cops went through her personal medicine bag, checking every prescription . They never asked permission, in fact, they were never invited nor asked to be allowed inside . I'm questioning the legality of the whole situation . To be clear, neither my wife nor I were bothered by it and will not report it, even if it goes against hipaa, but, I believe they might be putting themselves in jeopardy, in the future . The event did make us feel they were suspicious of an over dose or similar activity . Had we been doing something illegal, we'd have surely required a warrant, before entry was allowed . As it was, we did feel aittle violated .

[jeanthornton]

In the public system my experiance is mainly with south australia and nsw south Wales, the mental health department feels that certain patients do not have any human or privacy rights. They are simple means to an end, regardless of the harm to them, of their studies and their accreditation which they do behind their back and publish all without consent. It is their habit to do this.

[whb]

I'm willing to waive mine RIGHT NOW!!

[Bigwes]

So how does this pertain to covid? This is what brought me here

[yevgeniyzharinov]

Can you inform a family member when a patient is discharged? Even if the patient is incompetent and the responsible party says info can only be given to him?

[marckemp]

I don't ask some people what their diagnosis is because it's none of my business. But someone keeps suggesting i tell every little detail and I'm not going to do it!

[monicagandy]

JUSTICE ⚖ FOR MONICA GANDY IN JESUS NAME 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[SnappingTurtle]

If a staff member berates a patient in front of her roommate and threatens to kick her out for nonpayment isn't that a HIPPA violation?

[billbush-tx]

Also medical institutions now will sell your genome to a place called ARUP in Utah. Databaser and serological testers, the perfect front to collect any and all genomic signatures. You don't want anyone to have your blueprints.

[BladeObssession]

If you know a fellow employee had Covid and when they return you tell other employees to keep their distance or be careful is that a violation of law

[rembertolopezjr]

Love that teachers can’t be told their student has COVID and classmates remain unaware they sat next to a student with COVID

[asjon]

My issue with this law is if someone has mental health issues and is admitted to the mental health unit, you have no access to them do to hipaa. This should be addressed. If someone is not in the mental state to consent to giving family information or status the health caregivers just kidnapped your family member.

[ratgrandma]

Hippas a joke who do you go to when you know a somebody violated the law

[nickhalden]

That's why it's illegal for people to ask if you have your 19vax. I would like to know if people preparing my food have HIV or not but they never mandate that