My understanding is the person doing the asking (about vax status or anything else medically related) can only be sued if they circumvent the person (the employee)and go directly to the medical institution from which the employee obtains medical attention. Here's a scenario to illustrate my experience with HIPAA: A female employee looks as though she is putting on extra weight around the midsection of her body. They employer wants to know if she is pregnant so they can begin planning for the maternity leave absence. The employee in question refuses to disclose her pregnancy status. As a result the employer bypasses the employee and goes directly to her insurance carrier to see if any claims have been paid to an OBGYN as well as any subsequent medical information.
In this scenario, the employee can sue the doctor and/or the insurance carrier if they provide the protected information without authorization.
The simple act of the employer asking the employee if they are pregnant, does not provide the employee with a basis for a law suit.
An employer asking an employee about their vax status is not a violation of HIPAA. If the employer goes around the employee to obtain information about the vax status from a medical provider, and the medical provider gives out the information, then a violation has occurred.
Sadly, unless the patient has read all the documents and waivers they are given when they go to the doctor, they may have inadvertently authorized the release of their medical information to certain people without even realizing it.
My understanding is the person doing the asking (about vax status or anything else medically related) can only be sued if they circumvent the person (the employee)and go directly to the medical institution from which the employee obtains medical attention. Here's a scenario to illustrate my experience with HIPAA: A female employee looks as though she is putting on extra weight around the midsection of her body. They employer wants to know if she is pregnant so they can begin planning for the maternity leave absence. The employee in question refuses to disclose her pregnancy status. As a result the employer bypasses the employee and goes directly to her insurance carrier to see if any claims have been paid to an OBGYN as well as any subsequent medical information.
In this scenario, the employee can sue the doctor and/or the insurance carrier if they provide the protected information without authorization.
The simple act of the employer asking the employee if they are pregnant, does not provide the employee with a basis for a law suit.
An employer asking an employee about their vax status is not a violation of HIPAA. If the employer goes around the employee to obtain information about the vax status from a medical provider, then a violation of HIPAA has occurred. If the medical provider gives out the information, then another violation has occurred.
Sadly, unless the patient has read all the documents and waivers they are given when they go to the doctor, they may have inadvertently authorized the release of their medical information to certain people without even realizing it.
My understanding is the person doing the asking (about vax status or anything else medically related) can only be sued if they circumvent the person (the employee)and go directly to the medical institution from which the employee obtains medical attention. Here's a scenario to illustrate my experience with HIPAA: A female employee looks as though she is putting on extra weight around the midsection of her body. They employer wants to know if she is pregnant so they can begin planning for the maternity leave absence. The employee in question refuses to disclose her pregnancy status. As a result the employer bypasses the employee and goes directly to her insurance carrier to see if any claims have been paid to an OBGYN as well as any subsequent medical information.
In this scenario, the employer can be sued for seeking the information from the insurance provider and the doctor. Additionally, the employee can sue the doctor and the insurance carrier if they provide the protected information.
The simple act of the employer asking the employee if they are pregnant, does not provide the employee with a basis for a law suit.
An employer asking an employee about their vax status is not a violation of HIPAA. If the employer goes around the employee to obtain information about the vax status from a medical provider, then a violation of HIPAA has occurred. If the medical provider gives out the information, then another violation has occurred.
Sadly, unless the patient has read all the documents and waivers they are given when they go to the doctor, they may have inadvertently authorized the release of their medical information to certain people without even realizing it.
My understanding is the person doing the asking (about vax status or anything else medically related) can only be sued if they circumvent the person (the employee)and go directly to the medical institution from which the employee obtains medical attention. Here's a scenario to illustrate my experience with HIPAA: A female employee looks as though she is putting on extra weight around the midsection of her body. They employer wants to know if she is pregnant so they can begin planning for the maternity leave absence. The employee in question refuses to disclose her pregnancy status. As a result the employer bypasses the employee and goes directly to her insurance carrier to see if any claims have been paid to an OBGYN as well as any subsequent medical information.
In this scenario, the employer can be sued for seeking the information from the insurance provider and the doctor. Additionally, the employee can sue the doctor and the insurance carrier if they provide the protected information.
The simple act of the employer asking the employee if they are pregnant, does not provide the employee with a basis for a law suit.