The author of the X post stated that it was an unnamed employee of the hospital, not the hospital. Either way it definitely would be a violation of HIPAA unless the patient gave permission, which I suppose is unlikely.
Individuals are more likely than organizations to violate HIPAA but it happens both ways and more often than people think.
As yet there is no proof but I tend to believe it just because Talarico does seen kinda nuts.
“Anonymous sources” gave us Russiagate.
Over the years, private investigators and a former intel operative told me that there was one true way to get at supposedly confidential information: cash in hand.
STOP. It is NOT a violation of HIPPA to verify if someone is an inpatient or has been an inpatient in a hospital. If you want to be on ‘Absolutely No Publicity’ status then you or your family must request it, then fill out a paper form and sign it. I have had to do this.
If you hear your friend or family member is in the hospital, do you actually think you can’t just call and ask for John Smith’s room?