Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule require that a health care provider document a patient’s expressed preference not to have the provider discuss the details of her health care with her family?
No. The Privacy Rule does not require that a health [...]
How can a covered entity determine whether a person is a family member, or person involved in an individual’s care prior to death, for purposes of sharing protected health information about the decedent after death?
In some cases, it will be readily apparent to the [...]
If an individual instructs a covered health care provider that he does not want the provider to discuss his medical conditions or treatment with his family members, can the covered entity share such information with family members after the individual has died?
Generally, no. The Privacy Rule permits a covered entity to [...]
Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit a covered entity to disclose protected health information about a decedent to family members or other persons involved in the care of the decedent?
Yes. The Privacy Rule permits a covered entity to disclose [...]
Since the HIPAA Privacy Rule protects a decedent’s health information only for 50 years following the individual’s death, does my family health history recorded in my medical record lose protection when it involves family members who have been deceased for more than 50 years?
No. When a covered health care provider, in the course [...]
Since the HIPAA Privacy Rule protects a decedent’s health information for 50 years following the individual’s death, am I required to keep the decedent’s information for that period of time?
No. The Privacy Rule does not include medical record retention [...]
Do the HIPAA Privacy Rule protections apply to the health information of deceased individuals?
Yes, for a period of 50 years following the date [...]
How can family members of a deceased individual obtain the deceased individual’s protected health information that is relevant to their own health care?
The HIPAA Privacy Rule recognizes that a deceased individual’s protected [...]