As we cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to take a few extra measures to protect your organization, your patients, and your clients—as well as your data.
Q: Is a covered entity permitted to disclose PHI for litigation purposes? For example, if a covered entity is being sued for malpractice, can it present information that would qualify as PHI during the trial? If so, what are the limits on the type of information it can disclose?
Society has become increasingly reliant on social media, utilizing various platforms to connect with friends and colleagues, share opinions, and access information.
Q: We need to train a wide range of employees on HIPAA — from physicians to temporary nursing staff hired through a staffing agency to medical scribes and coders. Should we utilize the same HIPAA training methods across the board? Or do you recommend that we develop different training methods for each department? How should we go about doing that?
Q: If a patient is incapacitated, the Privacy Rule allows for a doctor to discuss the patient’s condition with a family member, according to HHS. What would the protocol be when the patient is divorced, but the ex-husband or ex-wife makes an inquiry about the patient’s status?
