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Policy 35: Policy on Releasing PHI to Family Members and Others <br /> North State Medical Transport <br /> Policy on Releasing PHI to Family Members and Others <br /> Purpose <br /> The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 ("HIPAA") permits North <br /> State Medical Transport to release protected health information ("PHI") about patients to <br /> family members,friends and others involved in the treatment of the patient or payment for <br /> that treatment. This policy outlines our procedures for releasing PHI to family members and <br /> others involved in our patients' care. <br /> Scope <br /> This policy applies to all North State Medical Transport staff members who receive <br /> requests from family members,friends and others for PHI of patients of North State Medical <br /> Transport. This policy does not apply to formal requests from patients or their personal <br /> representatives for: access to PHI; amendment of PHI; restriction of PHI; accounting of <br /> disclosures of PHI; or confidential communications. This policy shall apply to requests for PHI <br /> from family members of the patient or others who do not qualify as the patient's personal <br /> representative, but who are involved in the patient's care or payment for that care. <br /> Procedure <br /> General Procedure for Releasing PHI to Family Members and Others <br /> 1. HIPAA permits North State Medical Transport staff members to release PHI that is <br /> directly relevant to the patient's care or payment for care to family members, friends <br /> and others involved in a patient's care, or payment for that care,whenever releasing <br /> PHI to that individual would be in the best interest of a patient. North State Medical <br /> Transport may also use or disclose PHI to notify family members or others about a <br /> patient's location, general condition, or death. <br /> 2. If an individual other than the patient or the patient's personal representative makes a <br /> request for PHI from a North State Medical Transport staff member,the staff member <br /> shall first determine whether the patient about whom the request pertains to is <br /> present, competent and able to make healthcare decisions. <br /> 3. If the patient is present, competent and able to make healthcare decisions,the staff +, <br /> member should obtain the patient's agreement to share the requested PHI with the <br /> individual, or give the patient an opportunity to object. The staff member may ask the <br /> patient whether it is okay to talk to the individual and release PHI to them. Or, the staff <br />