Question

Which of the following types of provider data contained in the NPI database is not considered disclosable under the Freedom of Information Act:

A) Provider's address
B) Provider's taxonomy code
C) Provider's phone number
D) Provider's name

Answer 1

The item from the NPI database not considered disclosable under FOIA is C) Provider's phone number due to privacy reasons, while other details such as name, address, and taxonomy code are generally disclosable.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks which type of provider data in the NPI database is not considered disclosable under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The correct answer is option C) Provider's phone number. While a provider's name, address, and taxonomy code are generally considered disclosable information as they are needed to ensure transparency and to assist in health care coordination and verification, the provider's personal phone number can be protected for privacy reasons. Personal contact information often falls under exemptions to FOIA meant to protect personal privacy. It is important to maintain the balance between transparency for professional accountability and the protection of individual privacy.