HIPPA AND EMPLOYEE'S DEATH

Ethel

We no longer make announcements re employee's illness, etc. However, just yesterday we had an employee killed as a result of an auto accident (not job related). Can we send out a message/announcement re death, funeral info??? Or is it recommended that "officially" we do nothing?

hrbanker

A death is a matter of public record. There will be a published obituary and record of the death at the local courthouse. I don't see how it could be a privacy matter as long as you stick to the facts that will be revealed in those documents and don't give details about the accident scene.

My condolences to you and your fellow employees.

Leslie

Respond and inform. I doubt the employee is concerned about privacy any longer. It's impossible to ignore such a tragedy.

Ethel

Thanks! Your advice re-enforces what I had thought but with the new wrinkles in HIPPA it was the family I was worried about. (I neglected to mention that his brother works for us also.) Thanks again.

skyrocket

I know I am sounding like a broken record, but HIPAA is a law affecting BENEFIT PLANS only. Employment records are not subject to this law. There may be other privacy laws affecting disclosure of personal information - but these shouldn't be confused with HIPAA "protected health information/PHI". The above scenario is in no way affected by HIPAA...