WE’VE SEEN THE ACRONYM ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIA LATELY. HIPAA. IT’S A HOT
TOPIC.
BUT THERE’S SOME MISUNDERSTANDINGS ABOUT WHAT IT IS EXACTLY AND…
HOW TO EVEN SPELL IT.
SO LETS START WITH THE EASY ONE.
DESPITE THIS TRENDING HASHTAG…HIPAA IS NOT SPELLED WITH TWO P’S.
HIPAA, H-I-P-A-A STANDS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT.
IT OUTLINES YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR PERSONAL HEALTH
INFORMATION.
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE GOT HIPAA TRENDING
WHEN A REPORTER ASKED IF SHE’D BEEN VACCINATED. SHE CALLED IT A
VIOLATION OF HER HIPAA RIGHTS. BUT…IN THIS CASE IT WASN’T.
IT’S LEGAL FOR SOMEONE TO ASK WHETHER YOU’VE BEEN VACCINATED, BUT
IT’S YOUR CHOICE WHETHER OR NOT TO ANSWER.
HIPAA HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.
HIPAA ONLY APPLIES TO PEOPLE IN THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. THEY’RE BOUND BY IT. IF THEY
DISCLOSE YOUR PRIVATE MEDICAL INFORMATION WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION,
THEY WOULD BE THE ONES IN VIOLATION.
SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE COVID VACCINE, IF SOMEONE ASKS, YOU CAN DECIDE WHETHER TO TELL
THEM.
HERE’S THE TWIST…
EMPLOYERS DO HAVE A RIGHT TO MAKE SURE EMPLOYEES ARE PHYSICALLY
ABLE TO WORK. SO ASKING FOR A DOCTOR’S NOTE WHEN YOUR SICK OR
REQUIRING A VACCINE IF IT’S COMPANY POLICY, *IS WITHIN THEIR
RIGHTS…AND NOT A HIPAA VIOLATION.
ANY MORE #HIPAA QUESTIONS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.
