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228 W. MAIN STREET, SUITE B, GOLDENDALE WASHINGTON 98620 • VOICE [PHONE REDACTED] • FAX [PHONE REDACTED] 501 NE WASHINGTON ST. P.O. BOX 159 WHITE SALMON, WA. 98672 ⋅VOICE [PHONE REDACTED] ⋅FAX [PHONE REDACTED] KEVIN BARRY: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH K L I C K I T A T C O U N T Y D E P A R T M E N T O F P U B L I C H E A L T H The HIPAA Privacy Rule expressly permits covered entities (health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses) to disclose protected health information (PHI), without client or patient authorization, to public health authorities for the purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury, or disability. This includes, but is not limited to, public health surveillance, investigation, and intervention. However, covered entities usually are required to keep an accounting of disclosures made without authorization. In addition, the covered entity does not need a business associate contract, or other agreement with the public health entity in order to disclose the required information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 has led to the development of new health information privacy standards by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The new standards provide protection for the privacy of certain individually identifiable health data, referred to as PHI. The HIPAA Privacy Rule 45 CFR §164.512(b) recognizes the legitimate need for public health authorities that are responsible for protecting the health of the public to have access to protected health information to carry out their public health functions. The limits on exchange of protected health information generally do not apply to governmental public health agencies. Klickitat County Health Department is a public health authority as defined by the HIPAA Privacy Rule, 45 C.F.R §164.501. In Washington State, there are several laws and regulations that require disclosure of certain protected health information to public health authorities, and describe the content of notifiable disease reports. Among these are WAC 246-101 Notifiable Conditions (as authorized by RCW 43.20.050 Powers and Duties of State Board of Health), RCW 70.28.010 (health care providers required to report tuberculosis cases) and RCW 70.24 (control and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases). For further information, please contact the health department at [PHONE REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED], and ask to speak to someone about the privacy policy.