HIPAA and reporting theft by a patient

 

A patient steals the wallet of a health care worker while at the hospital.  The credit cards are used before they can be canceled.  The health care worker views the videotape at one of the stores and recognizes the patient.   Can the health care worker report the theft and indicate the name of the person seen on the tape (and no more)? The answer is yes. Section 164.512(f) states that a covered entity may disclose to a law enforcement official protected health information that the covered entity believes in good faith constitutes evidence of criminal conduct that occurred on the premises of the covered entity.


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