Sharing a patient’s PHI

Written by Reed Tinsley, CPA | May 3, 2010

 

A staff member recognizes an acquaintance, realizes the acquaintance is a patient, and shares this information with someone else. Has the staff member violated HIPAA? The answer is yes if the staff member shared this information for reasons not related to his or her job. Recognizing the patient would be considered an incidental disclosure. Disclosing this information to another person, however, would be considered an inappropriate release of PHI.

Reproduced from HIPAA Weekly Advisor © 2010 HCPro, Inc., 200 Hoods Lane, Marblehead, MA 01945. 781/639-1872. www.hcpro.com. Used with permission.

About the Author

Reed Tinsley CPA

This article is written by Reed Tinsley, a Houston, TX-based CPA with over 30 years of experience advising physicians and medical practices across Texas and the United States. Reed holds certifications as a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA), Certified Healthcare Business Consultant (CHBC), and Certified Financial Planner (CFP), specializing exclusively in the healthcare sector. He is a published author, nationally recognized speaker, and trusted advisor to physicians on accounting & tax, practice management, and financial planning. Schedule a Free Consultation.

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