Is a pharmacist permitted to have customer acknowledge receipt of the notice by signing or initialing the log book that they already sign when they pick up prescriptions?

Answer:

Yes, provided that the individual is clearly informed on the log book of what they are acknowledging and the acknowledgment is not also used as a waiver or permission for something else that also appears on the log book (such as a waiver to consult with the pharmacist). The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides covered health care providers with discretion to design an acknowledgment process that works best for their businesses.

Date Created: 12/20/2002
Last Updated: 03/14/2006