HIPAA Guidance Materials

Small Providers, Small Health Plans, and other Small Businesses

View materials about the Privacy Rule for small providers, small health plans and other small businesses.

HIPAA and Health Plans - Care Coordination and Continuity of Care

View frequently asked questions that clarify how the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits health plans to share protected health information (PHI) in a manner that furthers the HHS Secretary's goal of promoting coordinated care.

Covered Entities

Understanding Some of HIPAA's Permitted Uses and Disclosures - Topical fact sheets that provide examples of when PHI can be exchanged under HIPAA without first requiring a specific authorization from the patient, so long as other protections or conditions are met.

Guidance on Significant Aspects of the Privacy Rule - A collection of documents explaining many provisions of the Privacy Rule including business associates, special topics such as disclosures for public health and research, and incidental uses and disclosures.

Guidance on Individuals' Right to Access Health Information - This guidance explains the importance of providing individuals with the ability to access and obtain a copy of their health information.

Guidance on HIPAA and Workplace Wellness Programs - This guidance explains the ways in which health information collected from or created about participants in a wellness program offered as part of a group health plan is protected by HIPAA.

Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of Protected Health Information in Accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule - This page provides guidance about methods and approaches to achieve de-identification in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule. The guidance explains and answers questions regarding the two methods that can be used to satisfy the Privacy Rule’s de-identification standard: Expert Determination and Safe Harbor.  This guidance is intended to assist covered entities to understand what is de-identification, the general process by which de-identified information is created, and the options available for performing de-identification.

Workshop on the HIPAA Privacy Rule's De-Identification Standard - Washington, DC - March 8th & 9th, 2010

Fast Facts for Covered Entities - Answers to many common questions and misconceptions about patient consent, incidental disclosures, child abuse reporting, electronic media, and other disclosures.

Provider Guide: Communicating With a Patient's Family, Friends, or Other Persons Identified by the Patient - This is a guide for health care providers to help them determine when they can disclose a patient's health information to the patient's family, friends, or other identified by the patient.

Understanding Spouse, Family Member, Marriage, and Personal Representatives in the Privacy Rule - The HIPAA Privacy Rule recognizes the integral role that a spouse often plays in a patient's health and health care.  Consistent with the Supreme Court decision in Obergefell  v. Hodges, OCR has issued guidance that makes clear that the terms marriage, spouse, and family member include, respectively, all lawful marriages (whether same-sex or opposite-sex), lawfully married spouses and the dependents of all lawful marriages, and clarifies certain rights of individuals under the Privacy Rule.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Medical History Information - These frequently asked questions and answers address how the Privacy Rule permits the use and disclosure of family medical history information.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Disposal of Protected Health Information - These frequently asked questions and answers address how covered entities should dispose of protected health information pursuant to the Privacy and Security Rules.

HIPAA and the FTC Act - Does your organization collect and share consumer health information? When it comes to privacy, you've probably thought about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). But did you know that you also need to comply with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act? This means if you share health information, it's not enough to simply consider the HIPAA Privacy Rule. You also must make sure your disclosure statements are not deceptive under the FTC Act.

Misleading Marketing Claims - This notice addresses marketing claims that suggest compliance programs may be endorsed by HHS. HHS and OCR do not endorse any private consultants' or education providers' seminars, materials or systems, and do not certify any persons or products as Privacy Rule compliant.

Designation of Regional Privacy Advisors - The HITECH Act requires the Secretary to designate an individual in each regional office of HHS to offer guidance and education to covered entities, business associates, and individuals on their rights and responsibilities related to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules. 

Sign Up for the OCR Privacy Listserv - OCR has established a listserv to inform the public about Privacy and Security Rule FAQs, guidance, and technical assistance materials as they are released.

Related Links

See HIPAA related links.

 

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Frequently Asked Questions for Professionals - Please see the HIPAA FAQs for additional guidance on health information privacy topics.

Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed on August 31, 2020