Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) states that Protected Health Information (PHI) is any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to an individual. This includes any part of a patient’s medical, mental, or substance abuse record. HIPAA limits the release of information. Therefore, PHI can only be given to those individuals that have the patient’s written consent. It is public record that an individual is housed at LPCC, however, the services they receive are private. LPSO can request that the individual sign a Release of Confidential Information, but he or she may refuse. Their current condition can be given to you only with the individual’s permission.