I am currently on short-term disability due to anxiety and panic disorder. I received a call from a head hunter the other day (the one I used to get my current job) he told me that he saw my boss at an open house that his company had and my boss had asked him if he has talked to me and she also told him that I am on short-term disability. Is that a violation of Hippa or some other type of violation of my privacy?

I am currently on short-term disability due to anxiety and panic disorder. I recieved a call from a head hunter the other day (the one I used to get my current job) he told me that he saw my boss at an open house that his company had and my boss had asked him if he has talked to me and she also told him that I am on short-term disability. Is that a violation of Hippa or some other type of violation of my privacy?


I don't believe so - no medical information was given out and if you are collecting disability it's public knowledge and would be ascertained upon re-interview. Intent might enter into it (why were you being discussed?) but I don't see a violation.

I don't see it either. As long as the reason for the disability was not discussed there was no HIPAA violation. EVen if it was, since your boss is not responsible for providing health care, there was no violation. It may be an ethical breach for your boss to discuss your medical history with someone else depending on the reasons behind that discussion.