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Emergency Situations: Preparedness, Planning, and Response








  
  
    

  
      



The Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information from unauthorized or impermissible uses and disclosures. The Rule is carefully designed to protect the privacy of health information, while allowing important health care communications to occur. These pages address the release of protected health information for planning or response activities in emergency situations. In addition, please view the Civil Rights Emergency Preparedness page to learn how nondiscrimination laws apply during an emergency.

COVID-19 and HIPAA

During the COVID-19 national emergency, which also constitutes a nationwide public health emergency, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has provided guidance that helps explain how the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows patient information to be shared in the outbreak of infectious disease and to assist patients in receiving the care they need.

Click to access guidance on HIPAA flexibility during the COVID-19 emergency

Planning

Access an interactive decision tool designed to assist emergency preparedness and recovery planners in determining how to gain access to and use health information about persons with disabilities or others consistent with the Privacy Rule.

The tool guides the user through a series of questions to find out how the Privacy Rule would apply in specific situations. By helping users focus on key Privacy Rule issues, the tool helps users appropriately obtain health information for their public safety activities.

The tool is designed for covered entities as well as emergency preparedness and recovery planners at the local, state and federal levels.

Emergency Preparedness Planning and the Privacy Rule:
	Press Release: HHS Announces New HIPAA Privacy Decision Tool for Emergency Preparedness Planning
		HIPAA Privacy Rule: Disclosures for Emergency Preparedness - A Decision Tool
		Norma de Privacidad de la ley HIPAA: Divulgación de Información para Fines de Preparación en Casos de Emergencia – Una Herramienta Para la Toma de DecisionesResponse

In this section, access guidance about sharing patient information under the Privacy Rule in emergency situations, such as to assist patients in receiving the care they need, as well as to assist in disaster relief, public health, and law enforcement efforts.

2023 Public Health Emergency for Georgia in Response to Hurricane Idalia*
	2023 Public Health Emergency for Florida in Response to Hurricane Idalia*
	2023 Hawaii Wildfires Bulletin*
	2023 Typhoon Mawar – Guam*
	2023 Mississippi Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, and Tornadoes Bulletin*
	2022 Hurricane Ian - South Carolina
	2022 Hurricane Ian - Florida
	2022 Hurricane Fiona
	2022 Kentucky Flooding Bulletin
	2022 New Mexico Wildfires and Straight-Line Winds Bulletin
	2021 Hurricane Ida Bulletin
	2021 Texas Winter Storm Bulletin
	2020 Oregon Wildfires Bulletin
	August 2020 Hurricane Laura Bulletin
	2020 California Wildfires Bulletin
	March 2020 HIPAA and COVID-19 Bulletin
	Marzo de 2020 Boletín informativo sobre el COVID-19 y la Ley HIPAA
	February 2020 HIPAA and Novel Coronavirus
	Febrero de 2020: la Norma de Privacidad de la ley HIPAA y el nuevo coronavirus
	January 2020 Puerto Rico Earthquakes Bulletin
	Terremotos en Puerto Rico de enero de 2020
	September 2019 Hurricane Dorian Bulletin
	July 2019 Tropical Storm Barry Bulletin
	October 2018 Super Typhoon Yutu Bulletin
	October 2018 Hurricane Michael Bulletin
	September 2018 Hurricane Florence Bulletin
	October 2017 California Wildfires Bulletin
	Los Huracanes y la Ley HIPAA [September 2017]
	September 2017 Hurrican Maria Bulletin
	September 2017 Hurricane Irma Bulletin
	August 2017 Hurricane Harvey Bulletin
	November 2014 Bulletin: HIPAA Privacy in Emergency Situations [PDF – 30KB]
	September 2013 HIPAA Guide for Law Enforcement [PDF – 177KB]
	Norma de Privacidad de la Ley de Responsabilidad y Movilidad del Seguro de Salud: Guía para órganos del orden público
	September 2005 Hurricane Katrina Bulletins
	Disclosing PHI in Emergency Situations [PDF - 30KB]
		Compliance Guidance and Enforcement Statement [PDF - 148KB]
	Disclosures to Public Health Authorities
	Cuándo las entidades cubiertas por la Ley HIPAA pueden entregar información de salud protegida a las autoridades de salud pública
	Public Health Authority Disclosure Request Checklist
	Ley HIPAA: Lista de verificación para solicitud de divulgación de información por parte de una autoridad de salud públicaWaivers

If the President declares an emergency or disaster *and* the Secretary of HHS declares a public health emergency, the Secretary may waive sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with certain provisions of the Privacy Rule.  The Privacy Rule remains in effect.  The waivers are limited and apply only for limited periods of time.

Frequently Asked Question: HIPAA waiver during a national or public health emergency
	¿La Norma de Privacidad de la Ley HIPAA se suspende durante una emergencia de salud pública o nacional?* People using assistive technology may not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, contact the HHS Office for Civil Rights at (800) 368-1019, TDD toll-free: (800) 537-7697, or by emailing OCRMail@hhs.gov.

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Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Content last reviewed September 13, 2023Back to top
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