Q: Can my employer discuss details of my work comp claim with others? In Iowa
My employer has discussion of work comp claim on the agenda for a public meeting. Is this legal to discuss? I don’t think HIPAA applies here
A:
In Iowa, your employer should not be discussing the details of your workers’ compensation claim in a public meeting, especially if it involves any personal or medical information. While you’re right that HIPAA (which generally applies to healthcare providers) may not strictly apply to your employer, Iowa has other privacy protections in place. Your workers’ compensation claim contains private information, including your medical history, injury details, and personal circumstances, which shouldn’t be publicly disclosed.
Employers do have a right to discuss certain aspects of workers’ comp claims, like how it affects their business operations or insurance premiums, but they have to be very careful about not crossing the line into discussing your specific medical details or anything that could identify you personally in a public setting. Doing so could violate your right to privacy.
If you find out that your employer is publicly discussing details of your workers’ comp claim that go beyond general administrative topics, you may want to speak with a workers’ compensation attorney. They can help you determine if your privacy rights have been violated and what steps to take next, whether it’s addressing the issue with your employer directly or pursuing further action.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
