When an ambulance service delivers a patient to a hospital, is it permitted to report its treatment of the patient and patient's medical history to the hospital, without the patient's authorization?

Answer:

Yes. The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits an ambulance service or other health care provider to disclose protected health information about an individual, without the individual’s authorization, to another health care provider, such as a hospital, for that provider’s treatment of the individual. See 45 CFR 164.506 and the definition of “treatment” at 45 CFR 164.501.

Date Created: 12/19/2002