Topic: Health & Wellness / HIPPA Act

While I agree with you that those kinds of statements should be withheld simply out of professionalism, I believe that you are giving misinformation about HIPPA. HIPPA only applies to “covered entities” which HIPPA defines as health plans, health care clearing houses, and health care providers who electronically transmit any health information in connection with transactions for which HHS has adopted standards.

Most corrections professionals do not fall into that definition. There are many “rumors” about HIPPA that people, to include health care providers, simply believe. For example, I have been told by a local hospital that I could not be given information about one of my inmates in custody because of HIPPA regulations. That also is simply not true and HIPPA actually directly addresses inmates in custody and the release of their information.