Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit health care providers to obtain an electronic acknowledgment of the notice from individuals?
Yes. For notice delivered electronically, an electronic return receipt or other return transmission from the individual is considered a valid written acknowledgment of the notice. A provider who gives his paper notice to a patient during a face-to-face encounter with the individual at first service delivery may also obtain an electronic acknowledgment from the individual, provided that the individuals acknowledgment is in writing. Thus, a receptionists notation in the providers computer system of the individuals receipt of the notice would not be considered a valid written acknowledgment of the individual.
Related Questions
- Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule require a health care provider to obtain a new acknowledgment of receipt of the notice from patients if the facility changes its privacy policy?
- Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit hospitals and other health care facilities to inform visitors or callers about a patients location in the facility and general condition?
- Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule permit health care providers to obtain an electronic acknowledgment of the notice from individuals?
