Fire Law Blog Fire Service and Public Safety Legal Issues Blog by Curt Varone

Tag Archives: OCR

Burning Question: COVID 19 and HIPAA Hysteria

Today’s Burning Question: Does HIPAA allow first responders to be notified of critical information such as the addresses of positive covid-19 patients? Answer: HIPAA Hysteria… I do not know why HIPAA gets blamed for being a boogey-man, but HIPAA does not prohibit fire and EMS personnel from conveying necessary information to each other.

HIPAA Violation Results in $65k Settlement

The loss of an unencrypted laptop computer containing protected health information off the back bumper of an ambulance belonging to West Georgia Ambulance Inc., resulted in a federal investigation into HIPAA violations and a settlement agreement requiring the company to pay $65,000.

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.

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