May health-care providers make disclosures to public officials who are responding to bioterrorism or other public health emergencies (such as a tornado)?
Yes. Individuals who are responsible for coordination of communication under existing emergency management plans may disclose information essential to a quick and effective response to such events.
Source: Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights FAQ's dated March 11, 2003.
If you're a manager, please ensure all of your employees are informed of the contents of these messages and how it applies to your work area. Some ways of sharing the information include discussions during staff meetings, printing and posting this message or asking your employees if they have any further questions.