Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

HHS.gov
  • About HHS
  • Programs & Services
  • Grants & Contracts
  • Laws & Regulations
  • HIPAA for Individuals
  • Filing a Complaint
  • HIPAA for Professionals
  • Newsroom

Breadcrumb

  1. HHS
  2. HIPAA Home
  3. For Professionals
  4. FAQ
  5. 259-Can a pharmacist use information to fill a prescription that was telephoned in by a patient's physician
  • Authorizations (30)
  • Business Associates (41)
  • Compliance Dates (2)
  • Covered Entities (14)
  • Decedents (9)
  • Disclosures for Law Enforcement Purposes (5)
  • Disclosures for Rule Enforcement (1)
  • Disclosures in Emergency Situations (2)
  • Disclosures Required by Law (6)
  • Disclosures to Family and Friends (28)
  • Disposal of Protected Health Information (6)
  • Facility Directories (7)
  • Family Medical History Information (3)
  • FERPA and HIPAA (10)
  • Group Health Plans (3)
  • Health Information Technology (41)
  • Incidental Uses and Disclosures (10)
  • Judicial and Administrative Proceedings (8)
  • Limited Data Set (6)
  • Marketing (18)
  • Marketing - Refill Reminders (16)
  • Mental Health (35)
  • Minimum Necessary (14)
  • Notice of Privacy Practice (20)
  • Personal Representatives and Minors (12)
  • Preemption of State Law (10)
  • Privacy Rule: General Topics (12)
  • Protected Health Information (2)
  • Public Health Uses and Disclosures (13)
  • Research Uses and Disclosures (20)
  • Right to Access and Research (58)
  • Right to an Accounting of Disclosures (8)
  • Right to File a Complaint (1)
  • Right to Request a Restriction (3)
  • Safeguards (13)
  • Security Rule (24)
  • Smaller Providers and Businesses (145)
  • Student Immunizations (8)
  • Telehealth (11)
  • Transition Provisions (3)
  • Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations Disclosures (30)
  • Workers Compensation Disclosures (5)

Can a pharmacist use protected health information to fill a prescription that was telephoned in by a patient's physician without the patient's written consent if the patient is a new patient to the pharmacy?

Answer:

Yes. The pharmacist is using the protected health information for treatment purposes, and the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not require covered entities to obtain an individual’s consent prior to using or disclosing protected health information about him or her for treatment, payment, or health care operations.

Date Created: 12/19/2002

Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed January 9, 2023
Back to top
  • Contact HHS
  • Careers
  • HHS FAQs
  • Nondiscrimination Notice
  • HHS Archive
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Viewers & Players
  • Budget/Performance
  • Inspector General
  • Web Site Disclaimers
  • EEO/No Fear Act
  • FOIA
  • The White House
  • USA.gov

Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
HHS Logo

HHS Headquarters

200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​