Recently published federal guidance helps clarify when and how physicians should release patient information when it is requested for litigation. The following link provides questions and answers from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding HIPAA rules on administrative and judicial proceedings:
www.http://answers.hhs.gov/cgi-bin/hhs.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?&p_cat_lvll=7&p_cat_lvl2=52