September 2008

A Health Care Provider's Guide to the HIPAA Privacy Rule: Communicating With a Patients Family, Friends, or Others Involved in the Patients Care

This document was released by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. It provides guidance for providers by addressing eight common questions about the HIPAA privacy rule. The questions cover various circumstances in which patient information can be shared without violating HIPAA rules. In general, the guideline is that if the patient gives consent for the information to be shared, then it can be shared. If the patient is unable to give consent, a health care provider may share information directly related to the patients care with persons who may be involved in caregiving or in paying for care.