I'm a social worker and my clients are the homeless in my city that need specific mental health support. We make sure they get the metal healthcare they need and housing.

There is a very shady "homeless shelter" that is being shutdown for not being licensed but they're putting up a fight. Today I tried to talk to a client at this place and was told my client was in the hospital. Checked. They weren't. We found the client who then told us the owner just says that so she doesn't have to let anyone talk to the folks living there. It's a pretty abusive place.

Is lying about someone being in the hospital a HIPAA violation? Is it illegal otherwise? We need to help these clients and they're being isolated as much as the owner can isolate them.