67 Confidentiality

The RAC must treat the medical records it collects as confidential information. (See Management Instruction EL-860-1998-2, Employee Medical Records.) The RAC retains such documentation in the RAC file, intact, inside the individual’s Candidate folder or EMF. Both the Privacy Act and the Rehabilitation Act prohibit disclosure of such medical information except in certain limited situations, such as the following:

• When there is a need to know to ensure compliance with medical restrictions or to provide a reasonable accommodation.
• To inform safety personnel if the employee may require emergency treatment due to the disability while the employee is at work.
• For administration of workers’ compensation and insurance programs.
• For government officials conducting inquiries on Rehabilitation Act compliance reviews.
• To manage, evaluate, and report on the Postal Service’s EEO and Diversity programs.

Refer to Subchapter 26 for additional information on record keeping.