Emergency Situations: Preparedness, Planning, and Response
Guidance from the Office for Civil Rights
Year Developed: 2017
Resource Type: Publication.Primary Audience: Enabling Staff
Language(s): English
Developed by: HITEQ (See other resources developed by this organization).
Resource Summary: From the OCR: The Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information from unauthorized or impermissible uses and disclosures. The Rule is carefully designed to protect the privacy of health information, while allowing important health care communications to occur. These pages address the release of protected health information for planning or response activities in emergency situations. In addition, please view the Civil Rights Emergency Preparedness page to learn how nondiscrimination laws apply during an emergency. From the OCR: The Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information from unauthorized or impermissible uses and disclosures. The Rule is carefully designed to protect the privacy of health information, while allowing important health care communications to occur.
Resource Details: These pages address the release of protected health information for planning or response activities in emergency situations. In addition, please view the Civil Rights Emergency Preparedness page to learn how nondiscrimination laws apply during an emergency. Outlined in the OCR article are detailed actions for: Planning - Access an interactive decision tool designed to assist emergency preparedness and recovery planners in determining how to gain access to and use health information about persons with disabilities or others consistent with the Privacy Rule. Response - In this section, access guidance about sharing patient information under the Privacy Rule in emergency situations, such as to assist patients in receiving the care they need, as well as to assist in disaster relief, public health, and law enforcement efforts. Waivers - If the President declares an emergency or disaster and the Secretary of HHS declares a public health emergency, the Secretary may waive sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with certain provisions of the Privacy Rule. The Privacy Rule remains in effect. The waivers are limited and apply only for limited periods of time.
Resource Topic: Operations, Health Information Technology (HIT)/Data
Resource Subtopic: Emergency Management, Privacy and Security, Electronic Health Records (EHRs).
Keywords: Office for Civil Rights (OCR), Privacy/Protected Health Information (e.g., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)).This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $6,625,000 with 0 percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.