Hurricane Harvey HIPAA Bulletin Limited Waiver of HIPAA Sanctions and Penalties During a Declared Emergency

This document discusses waivers issued by the Secretary of Health and Human Services following Hurricane Harvey in 2017 of the sanctions and penalties against a covered hospital that does not comply with provisions of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. This information may be helpful to planners in understanding how requirements may change following a declared public health emergency to allow healthcare facilities to provide necessary care to those affected by the disaster.