Does HIPAA allow you to speak with family members or leave messages on an answering machine about patient appointments or health concerns?
HIPAA states that you should speak with the patient directly about his or her health care or billing concerns, however, it allows you to “make reasonable inferences of the individual’s best interest in allowing a person to act on behalf of the individual (patient) to pick up filled prescriptions, medical supplies, X-rays, or other similar forms of protected health information.” Please note that you should always ask the patient if it is allowable for you to disclose protected health information to a family member or friend first. If the patient agrees, then you may speak with that individual about the patient’s health concern. If the patient is unable to agree due to an underlying situation, exercise professional judgment to determine whether you can disclose the protected health information (Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)). HIPAA allows you to leave patient appointment reminders on an answering machine or with members of the patient’s household. However, y
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