CNN: HIPAA was not waived in Orlando as result of tragedy, and here’s why

On June 14, 2016, CNN reported, “In the aftermath of the deadly shooting at Pulse, an Orlando gay bar, family and friends of wounded victims sought all the information they could about their loved ones' health. But there was mass confusion around medical privacy and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, known as HIPAA.

“Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said Sunday that he contacted the White House to ‘waive’ HIPAA regulations so doctors could update shooting victims' loved ones about their conditions. Some news outlets even reported that the waiver was an unusual step for the federal government but important for gay rights.

“However, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there was no ‘waiver’ after all. It wasn't needed.” READ MORE