HIPPAA violation?

[klb444]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

Can an employee of a public school system or a law enforcement official disclose health information about a student publically--What I mean is, can they verbally tell others what knowledge they have acquired about a student's health?
Would doing so be a violation of HIPPAA?

 

[cbg]

Not everyone is subject to HIPAA; only health care providers, health care clearinghouses, and some (not all) health insurance plans.

So while I don't know of the top of my head whether a public school official can release health information about a student (to whom?) it would not be a HIPAA violation since public schools are not subject to HIPAA.

 

[reviewphysician]

I don't think anybody has the right to do that. People's medical record should be strictly confidential. I cant think of a situation where it is ok to disclose a person's medical record publicly

Dr Nwaizuzu (www.reviewphysician.com)

 

[purple2]

You could also check to see if your state has any privacy laws. HIPAA is not the only privacy law.

Your other option would be to file complaints with the school or law enforcement agency. This might get them to change their policies about releasing sensitive info.

 

[panzertanker]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state? Pennsylvania

Can an employee of a public school system or a law enforcement official disclose health information about a student publically--What I mean is, can they verbally tell others what knowledge they have acquired about a student's health?
Would doing so be a violation of HIPPAA?

It truly depends on whether or not the information is being disclosed for the purpose of care, also. The HIPPAA laws do allow for sharing of information under certain circumstances, but we need more info before you can get an answer for that.

I would also ask IAAL or the others like seniorjudge this question; unless the information is patently false, I would not think there is anything that can be done about the release of info. HIPPAA was instituted to protect PATIENT information, as such, it usually governs hospitals, offices etc.