Question

A student has asked for an example of disclosure of PHI that is allowed by HIPAA. An appropriate example is:

a. permitting a spouse to pick up medication for the patient.
b. mandating that a health care facility has to amend the health record of a patient at the patient's request.
c. letting a business associate use PHI in whatever manner they see fit.
d. releasing patient information to the patient's attorney without an authorization.

Answer 1

A permitted disclosure of PHI under HIPAA is allowing a spouse to pick up medication for the patient. Disclosures must adhere to HIPAA guidelines and protect patient privacy.

Step-by-step explanation:

An example of disclosure of Protected Health Information (PHI) that is permitted under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is allowing a spouse to pick up medication for the patient. Under HIPAA, healthcare providers and pharmacies can use professional judgment and experience with common practice to make reasonable inferences of the patient's best interest in allowing a person to pick up prescriptions, medical supplies, or medical records on behalf of the patient.

However, PHI should not be disclosed to business associates for them to use in any manner they see fit, nor should it be released to a patient's attorney without proper authorization. HIPAA is stringent about protecting patient privacy, permitting only necessary information to be disclosed and only to those who need it to ensure the patient's healthcare.