Question

Under HIPPAA, a healthcare provider may not disclose medication records or the history of patients without prior approval of the patient. What is the only exception?

1) Emergency situations
2) In case of legal proceedings
3) For research purposes
4) In case of a public health emergency

Answer 1

HIPAA maintains strict confidentiality of patient records, but an exception is in emergency situations where sharing information is vital for patient care.

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a healthcare provider is typically prohibited from disclosing a patient's medication records or history without the patient's prior approval. However, one exception to this rule includes emergency situations, where disclosing such information is crucial to provide the necessary medical care for the patient. Other exceptions might potentially involve legal proceedings, research purposes, or public health emergencies, but each of these scenarios has specific requirements and protections in place that must be adhered to in order to ensure compliance with HIPAA regulations.