NMDP Given HIPAA Exemption

Transplant centers may provide patient-specific information to the National Marrow Donor Program without fear of violating patient privacy rules, according to a legal opinion from the federal government.

The NMDP is a “public health authority” for purposes of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), says the HHS Office of General Counsel and the Office of Civil Rights.  That allows NMDP-network centers to disclose to the NMDP protected health information without written authorization from the patient.   

HIPAA regulations allow agencies that are public health authorities to collect patient-specific information for purposes of preventing or controlling disease, injury or disabilities.

The NMDP has had a similar exemption from HIPAA patient privacy rules for its national bone marrow donor registry.  That exemption is now expanded to its activities as administrator for the new C. W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program, according to a letter from the Health Resources and Services Administration.