Title: Reporting and Disclosure Requirements
Course: HIM 2012 Health Law > Section: Module 8 - Reporting and Disclosure Requirements

Introduction

In order to protect the health and safety of a community, state and federal reporting laws require certain healthcare organizations and providers to report specific information, including PHI (protected health information), to government agencies.  HIPAA identifies 12 exceptions to the Privacy Rule that permit the use or disclosure of PHI without patient authorization.

Mandatory disclosure laws require issues related to disease prevention and control and community and health and safety.  These laws require the disclosure of PHI without patient authorization and offer protection from civil liability to those who disclose the information as a matter of law.  The laws vary from state to state which fall under the direction of state health departments. The four elements of the Privacy Rule related to reporting laws are disclosure without patient authorization, preemption, Notice of Privacy Practices, and accounting of disclosures.

Objectives

Upon completion of this module, the student will be able to
- Identify the HIPAA exceptions that allow the release of health information without patient authorization
- Discuss the common reporting requirements related to abuse and neglect of children, the elderly, and the disabled
- Explain a state’s responsibility for reporting communicable diseases
- Describe the four elements of the HIPAA Privacy Rule that relate to required reporting laws

Readings & Resources

Required Reading:  Brodnik, Melanie.  Fundamentals of Law for Health Informatics and Information Management.  AHIMA Press.  Current edition. (Chapters 12 & 13)

Optional:  Pozgar, George.  Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration.  Jones and Bartlett Learning.  Current edition.  (Chapter 13)
HIPAA
American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics
American Health Information Management Association
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
American Medical Informatics Association

Assignments and Activities

- Read Chp. 12 and Chp. 13 in the Brodnik text

- Take the Module 8 Quiz
- Post on the Module 8 Discussion Board
- Post the Module 8 Internet Activity
- Continue working on the Health Law Electronic Portfolio (due in Module 10)