Privacy

Under the preamble to the HIPAA regulations located in Federal Register Vol. 65, No. 250, Page 82626 issued on December 28, 2000, poison control centers are considered health care providers for the purposes of HIPAA. The counseling and follow-up consultations provided by poison control centers with individual providers regarding patient outcomes are considered to be treatment. Therefore, poison control centers and other health care providers can share protected health information about the treatment of an individual without a business associate contract. 

Per 45 CFR 164.501 (under the heading of Treatment on pp. 82625-82626 of the December 28, 1999 Federal Register): 

"We note that poison control centers are health care providers for purposes of this rule. We consider the counseling and follow-up consultation provided by poison control centers with individual providers regarding patient outcomes to be treatment. Therefore, poison control centers and other health care providers can share protected health information about the treatment of an individual without a business associate contract."

In addition, poisoning is a Class 2 reportable condition pursuant to Mississippi State Department of Health regulations, and the Mississippi Poison Control Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson has been specifically designated as an entity to receive these reports.