HIPAA: Can you release medical information to family and friends?

My favorite fellow HIPAA blogger, Jeff Drummond, over at the HIPAA Blog points out the Office for Civil Rights has issued new guidance for providers to follow when assessing whether or not they should provide protected health information (PHI) to the friends or family of a patient under HIPAA Privacy Rule 164.510(b).

The guidance is titled "Guidance on Communications with Family, Friends, or Others Involved in a Patient's Care" and includes a patient and provider guide:

• Patient Guide: When Health Care Providers May Communicate About You with Your Family, Friends, or Others Involved in Your Care
• Provider Guide: Communicating with a Patient's Family, Friends, or Others Involved in a Patient's Care

Thanks Jeff for the tip on the new guidance information.