Under certain conditions, a provider covered under the HIPAA privacy rule need not obtain an individual’s authorization to use or disclosed protected health information to an interpreter, according to a new clarification of the rule.
Under the clarification from the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights, authorization is not needed when the interpreter is a member of the covered entity’s workforce, or a business associate covered under the privacy rule.

The Office for Civil Rights, which enforces the privacy rule, also clarified instances where a health plan may disclose protected health information to a state child support enforcement officer. Additional information on both clarifications is available at www.hhs.gov/ocr/hipaa.

Posted to HIPAAcomply 3/9/05