HHS HIPAA family and caregiver disclosure guidance
HHS OCR guidance explains when HIPAA allows providers and plans to share relevant health information with family members, friends, personal representatives, and others involved in a patient's care or payment for care.
Federal · Active · No date set
What it is
- What changed
- HHS OCR maintains caregiver-relevant HIPAA guidance explaining that covered entities may share information directly relevant to a family member's or friend's involvement in care or payment, may notify people responsible for care about location, condition, or death, and treat personal representatives as the individual for relevant health-care matters.
- Why it matters
- Caregivers often need enough health information to coordinate care, pick up medications, support discharge, or communicate with clinicians; the guidance helps separate permitted sharing from situations that require patient choice, professional judgment, or state-law representative authority.
- Who it touches
- Family caregivers, Care providers and plans, People receiving carepatients, family caregivers, friends involved in care, personal representatives, health-care providers, health plans
- What it does
- Gives people a right or protection; Requires something of providers, companies or agencies; Plans, studies, registries or guidance
Sources
- HHS HIPAA disclosures to family and friends FAQ
- HHS HIPAA personal representatives guidance
- HHS HIPAA family members and friends consumer guidance
Last reviewed Jul 4, 2026. This is information, not legal advice; check the source for the current text.