Hipaa Disclaimer
hipaa disclaimer
Does the “Fan” list of a Facebook page violate federal HIPAA regulations?
The Privacy Rule protects all “individually identifiable health information” held or transmitted by a covered entity or its business associate, in any form or media, whether electronic, paper, or oral. Individually identifiable health information includes many common identifiers (e.g., name, address, birth date, Social Security Number).
Since a person would have to voluntarily become a “fan” of a page, does this fall under the HIPAA rule? Would a disclaimer need to be added that states something to the effect that “fan” lists are not private and would this protect the health care provider from liability as regards any posts or comments left by the “fan”?
Also, being a “fan” does not categorically mean that the person is a patient, only that the person wants updates to the page.
Personal Names do apply to Protected Health Information. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protected_Health_Information
Facebook is a social network. HIPAA is a regulation protecting your health records. How are the two connected?
If a doctor has a Facebook page, and one of his/her patients wants to become a fan of that page, that patient is doing it voluntarily. HIPAA does not apply. Just like if you talked to a friend about a medical diagnosis you had at your last doctors appointment. You volunteered the information, so HIPAA does not apply.
*EDIT* – You still don’t seem to understand HIPAA. It protects you from your health care provider releasing your private information without your consent. If you become a fan of a doctors Facebook page, you have just given your consent to have your name shown on his page.
Ultimate HIPPA Spatula, HIPPO
