Law.com Subscribers SAVE 30%

Call 855-808-4530 or email [email protected] to receive your discount on a new subscription.

The Qualified Protective Order

By Broderick W. Harrell
August 26, 2010

The debate continues on how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) applies to, and affects, ex parte communications in civil litigation. As a federal regulation applicable to all states, one would expect HIPAA to establish a modicum of consistency in how local jurisdictions determine the scope of ex parte communication allowed between defense counsel and the plaintiff's health care providers. At present, however, that is a dream deferred.

Appellate courts nationwide are wrestling with assurance that state discovery laws comply with HIPAA mandates for limiting access to an individual's protected health information (PHI). Not surprisingly, since there are variations among state courts' interpretations of their respective rules governing ex parte communications with health care providers, vastly different appellate court directives exist for complying with HIPAA. Some courts have held that HIPAA absolutely precludes informal ex parte communications between defense counsel and the plaintiff's treating physicians, while others have concluded that such communications are permitted.

This premium content is locked for Entertainment Law & Finance subscribers only

  • Stay current on the latest information, rulings, regulations, and trends
  • Includes practical, must-have information on copyrights, royalties, AI, and more
  • Tap into expert guidance from top entertainment lawyers and experts

For enterprise-wide or corporate acess, please contact Customer Service at [email protected] or 877-256-2473

Read These Next
The DOJ's Corporate Enforcement Policy: One Year Later Image

The DOJ's Criminal Division issued three declinations since the issuance of the revised CEP a year ago. Review of these cases gives insight into DOJ's implementation of the new policy in practice.

The Bankruptcy Hotline Image

Recent cases of importance to your practice.

Use of Deferred Prosecution Agreements In White Collar Investigations Image

This article discusses the practical and policy reasons for the use of DPAs and NPAs in white-collar criminal investigations, and considers the NDAA's new reporting provision and its relationship with other efforts to enhance transparency in DOJ decision-making.

How AI Has Affected PR Image

When we consider how the use of AI affects legal PR and communications, we have to look at it as an industrywide global phenomenon. A recent online conference provided an overview of the latest AI trends in public relations, and specifically, the impact of AI on communications. Here are some of the key points and takeaways from several of the speakers, who provided current best practices, tips, concerns and case studies.

The DOJ's New Parameters for Evaluating Corporate Compliance Programs Image

The parameters set forth in the DOJ's memorandum have implications not only for the government's evaluation of compliance programs in the context of criminal charging decisions, but also for how defense counsel structure their conference-room advocacy seeking declinations or lesser sanctions in both criminal and civil investigations.