In the Headlines
August 17, 2021

Confusion Over Health Privacy Law Seen Impeding Covid Battle

Bloomberg Law

Attorney Shannon Hartsfield was quoted in a Bloomberg Law article about misuse of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. The law, enacted in 1996, was recently incorrectly cited by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott as they dismissed questions about whether they have received the COVID-19 vaccine. The state of Nebraska is now referring to HIPAA as a reason the state’s health department can only release limited data on COVID-19, despite safe harbors in the law.

Over the years, HIPAA has become inaccurately synonymous with health privacy. “It’s just sort of a generic term people are throwing around and it doesn’t really mean what they think it means,” Ms. Hartsfield said.

READ: Confusion Over Health Privacy Law Seen Impeding COVID Battle

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