HHS Issues HIPAA Guidance Document on Sharing Information Related to Mental Health


The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a new guidance document detailing how the HIPAA Privacy Rule operates to protect individual privacy rights with respect to mental health information.  The guidance document clarifies when HIPAA permits health care providers to communicate with a patient's family members, friends, or others involved in the patient's care, depending on whether the patient is an adult or a minor and consider the patient's capacity to agree or object to the sharing of their information.  In addition, the guidance further clarifies how providers may communicate with family members, law enforcement, or others when the patient presents a serious and imminent threat of harm to self or others.

The guidance document may be downloaded by clicking here