RFK Jr.'s Autism Comments Draw Concerns from Mother
Healthcare and privacy attorney Shannon Hartsfield was quoted in a NewsNation article providing clarity on how federal privacy laws apply to discussions surrounding autism and public health policy. In the context of recent debates over government research and the causes of autism, Ms. Hartsfield explained that Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations allow certain government agencies to collect and disclose protected health information when it is needed for public health reasons. She noted disclosing this information under these circumstances does not violate privacy laws.
"HIPAA also allows disclosure of a person's health data to a public health authority that is responsible for public health as part of its official mandate," she said.