Employers obtain employees’ medical information for various reasons, such as verifying a reasonable accommodation request, certifying leave or confirming eligibility for disability benefits. At the federal level, there are several laws restricting when employers can ask for employees’ medical information and requiring employers to keep such information confidential. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA), and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
