Can a hospital lawfully disclose information to the police for locating a suspect under HIPAA?

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HIPAA allows a hospital to disclose protected health information to law enforcement for identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness, or missing person. The release must be limited to the minimum information needed for identification or location, and it does not require patient authorization or a court order in this context. In practice, that can include basic identifying details such as name, address, date of birth, and distinguishing characteristics, and can also encompass information that helps locate the person within the facility, such as the date and time of admission or discharge. So sharing the date and time of admission/discharge along with identifying information to help locate a suspect is permissible under HIPAA’s law enforcement provisions. The other options rely on stricter requirements (like a court order) or on deidentification, which aren’t necessary here.