The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was passed in 1996 to help protect patient privacy. However, there are situations when a patient needs to retain an attorney to assist with a problem related to health care. In those cases, the attorney cannot access the medical information without a waiver granting permission for the attorney to view the patient’s records.

Attorneys should submit an inmate HIPAA Waiver Form (signed by the inmate) to the District’s Privacy Official.