Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations                  
Health Information Privacy
  HIPAA for Individuals
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Filing a Complaint
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HIPAA for Professionals
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Newsroom

              

    



Breadcrumb
    HHS
                              HIPAA Home
                              For Professionals
                              Special Topics
                              Emergency Response
                              A Decision Tool: Overview


    

    

    Navigate to:
  HIPAA for Professionals
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Regulatory Initiatives
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Privacy
                                            
            
            Summary of the Privacy Rule
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Guidance
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Combined Text of All Rules
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HIPAA Related Links
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Security
                                            
            
            Summary of the Security Rule
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Security Guidance
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Cyber Security Guidance
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Breach Notification
                                            
            
            Breach Reporting
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Guidance
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Reports to Congress
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Regulation History
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Compliance & Enforcement
                                            
            
            Enforcement Rule
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Enforcement Process
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Enforcement Data
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Resolution Agreements
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Case Examples
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Audit
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Reports to Congress
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      State Attorneys General
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Special Topics
                                            
            
            HIPAA and Part 2
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident FAQs
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HIPAA and COVID-19
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      HIPAA and Reproductive Health
                          
            
            HIPAA and Final Rule Notice
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HIPAA and Telehealth
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HIPAA and FERPA
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Research
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Public Health
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Emergency Response
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Health Information Technology
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Health Apps
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Patient Safety
                                            
            
            Statute & Rule
                          
            
            PSQIA Statute
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Patient Safety Rule
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Enforcement
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Guidance
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Covered Entities & Business Associates
                                            
            
            Business Associate Contracts
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Business Associates
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Training & Resources
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FAQs for Professionals
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Other Administrative Simplification RulesText resize icon

                    




Disclosures for Emergency Preparedness - A Decision Tool: Overview








  
  
    

  
      





Decision Tool
	Who is the source of the information to be disclosed?
	To whom is the information being disclosed?
	Is there a signed authorization permitting the disclosure?
	Process Flow At-A-GlanceIntroduction

**How to use this tool**

To guide you in determining how the Privacy Rule applies to the disclosure in question, this tool focuses on the source of the information being disclosed, to whom the information is being disclosed, and the purpose of the information being disclosed. To make your determination, go to the question that is most relevant to your emergency preparedness planning need and follow the information flow to find the appropriate answer.

Many terms used in the tool are defined by law or have a special meaning. The definitions or special meanings are discussed on the relevant pages or will be linked to other locations on this Web Site to assist you.

**Background**

Emergency preparedness and recovery planners are interested in the availability of information they need to serve people in the event of an emergency. For example, planners seek to meet the special needs of the elderly or persons with disabilities in the event of an evacuation. The federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule protects individually identifiable health information held by "covered entities." The information protected is referred to as protected health information or PHI. The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits covered entities to disclose PHI for a variety of purposes. This tool presents avenues of information flow that could apply to emergency preparedness activities. The rules regarding the use and disclosure of PHI apply to all individuals; no special rules apply to particular populations, such as persons with disabilities. We anticipate that emergency planners may organize their activities in a variety of ways; we hope this guidance will provide useful information to a range of potential programs.

If you are seeking guidance about sharing information during a disaster or other emergency, review our Guidance Material and Frequently Asked Questions. ***This tool is for advance planning purposes.***

This tool does not address other federal, state or local confidentiality laws that may apply in specific circumstances. For example, disclosures permitted by the Privacy Rule for public health would generally be prohibited under federal substance abuse confidentiality law. Because this tool focuses on issues relevant to emergency preparedness, this tool does not present all the uses and disclosures permitted by the Privacy Rule, nor does it discuss all of the Rule's requirements.

                    
  


Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Content last reviewed December 23, 2022Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​