Confusion Over Health Privacy Law Seen Impeding Covid Battle

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act is having a moment in the spotlight, but the federal health-care privacy law is in many cases being mischaracterized or misused.

The 1996 law went viral on social media after politicians and pro-athletes, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, inaccurately cited it as they declined to answer questions about whether they’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19. Nebraska is now pointing to HIPAA as a reason the state’s health department can only release limited data on Covid-19, despite safe harbors in the law.

Attorneys and health scholars worry ...