# HIPAA 164.502(f) — Deceased individuals

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/a_gen_hipaa_164502f_d43467d0b4-hipaa-164502f-deceased-individuals
- Section: [Solutions](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions) › [HIPAA Readiness](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/62000039493) › [Privacy Rule](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/folders/f_gen_62000039493_privacyrule)
- Last updated: 2026-05-30
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

HIPAA · Control 164.502(f) · Priority: medium · Component: Privacy Rule

### What this control covers

Standard: Deceased individuals: A covered entity must comply with the requirements of this subpart with respect to the protected health information of a deceased individual for a period of 50 years following the death of the individual. From 160.103 (Definitions): Protected health information means individually identifiable health information: (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this definition,\[...\] (2) Protected health information excludes individually identifiable health information: \[...\] (iv) Regarding a person who has been deceased for more than 50 years.

### Why it matters

Risk is the language an executive team understands; this control connects technical reality to board-level decisions and budget allocation.

### How to implement

#### AWS

Codify the policy intent as **SCPs, AWS Config conformance packs, and Security Hub standards** so the cloud enforces what the document says.

#### Azure

Codify in **Azure Policy initiatives** (built-in regulatory compliance for CIS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA) and assign at management-group level.

#### On-premises

Maintain a policy library with a documented review cadence (annual minimum); store in your GRC tool with attestation tracking. Map each policy to controls so an audit pull cites the exact policy clause.

### Evidence to collect

-   `policy_document` — A signed, version-controlled policy stating leadership intent and the named owner.

Signed policy or standard documents the safeguard. Focus: Deceased individuals.

### Quick checklist

-   Information — Requirements / Management
-   Person — Requirements / Management
-   Requirements — Requirements / Management
-   Policy — Requirements / Management
-   Definitions: — Requirements / Management
-   Standard: — Requirements / Management

### Related articles on this site

-   [164.312(c)(2) - Mechanism to authenticate electronic protected health information](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000230567-164-312-c-2-mechanism-to-authenticate-electronic-protected-health-information)
-   [CMMC 2.0 PE.1.131 Limit physical access to organizational information systems, equipment, and the respective operating environments to authorized individuals.](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000229653-cmmc-2-0-pe-1-131-limit-physical-access-to-organizational-information-systems-equipment-and-the-res)
-   [HIPAA 164.308(a)(4)(i) Information Access Management](https://support.icompaas.com/support/solutions/articles/62000230524-hipaa-164-308-a-4-i-information-access-management)

## Related compliance guidance

- [HIPAA compliance for SaaS: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/hipaa): The Security Rule safeguards this readiness item belongs to, with a phased implementation roadmap and the evidence OCR expects.
- [SOC 2 compliance: a practical implementation guide for cloud-native SaaS teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/soc-2-trust-services-criteria): Most healthcare customers ask for a SOC 2 report alongside HIPAA assurances; the two share most technical controls.