To make sure misconceptions about federal privacy rules do not get in the way of developing promising COVID-19 therapies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance on how health care providers may contact recovered COVID-19 patients about blood and plasma donation. Blood containing antibodies to the coronavirus may help other patients with COVID-19. The guidance emphasized that providers cannot receive payment from or on behalf of a blood and plasma donation center for communicating with recovered patients without the patients' authorization. The guidance was issued by the HHS Office for Civil Rights. Additional information about the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and COVID-19 is available on the department website. (HHS news release, 6/12/20)
