Question

Provide a brief overview of HIPAA and how society should apply it during the Covid 19 pandemic. To what extent should the public be made aware of who has contracted the virus? Please explain.

Answer 1

Waivers to HIPAA regulations during covid 19 pandemic is in place covering the requirements to obtain the patient's agreement to speak with family member or friends involved in the patient care, the requirement to honour a request to outpatient out of the facilitiy directory and the requirement to be distribute a notice of privacy practice . The patient right to request privacy restrictions and the patient's right to request confidential communications. The waiver only applies in areas covered by the public health emergency, only for hospital that have implemented their disaster control and only for a period of 72 hours for implementation. As a part of the pandemic or present situation their HIPAA would not require patient Authorization including disclosure for treatment such as emergency medical transport personal who will provide treatment while transporting the individual to the hospital and also disclosure to a first responder conducting a public health investigation who may have been exposed to covid 19. HIPAA permits a covered entity such as physician, located at prison medical facility to share an inmate's positive covid 19 results with correctional guards at the facility for the helath and safety of all people at the facility. It provide healthcare to the individual and the adminstration and maintenance of safety, security and good order.

Now public aware about the virus, mode of transmission and control of the disease. Public be made aware of who has contacted the virus by identifying as per the symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and breathing problems. Infection can be controlled by social distancing. So at the global level public practice in social distancing to reduce the risk of spread of the disease