Final answer:
Under 45 C.F.R. 164.506(c)(1), a covered entity is permitted to disclose PHI without prior authorization for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. Therefore, disclosures for treatment purposes and billing/healthcare operations directly related to the patient in question are generally permissible under HIPAA. Hence, option A, C & D are correct answers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The HIPAA Privacy Rule, codified at 45 C.F.R. 164.506(c)(1), allows for certain uses and disclosures of Protected Health Information (PHI) without prior written authorization from the individual. Of the options provided:
- A disclosure of PHI by a covered hospital to an ambulance company to help the ambulance company bill for transportation services provided to a patient transported to the hospital is a permitted use because it falls under the category of healthcare operations, specifically billing and collections activities.
- A disclosure of PHI from a covered oncologist to a covered pathologist to enable the covered oncologist to better treat the patient is a permitted use as it is a part of treatment activities.
- A disclosure of PHI by a covered hospital to a covered nursing home to help the covered nursing home treat a patient being transferred from the hospital to the nursing home is also a permitted use because it is for the purpose of treatment.
However, a disclosure of PHI by a covered hospital to another covered hospital for the second hospital's quality assurance activities without the patient's written authorization would generally not be permitted under the Privacy Rule, unless it is for healthcare operations related to the first hospital that involved the patient's care or payment for care.
Hence, option A, C & D are correct answers.
Which of the following information uses or disclosures would be permitted by a covered entity under 45 C.F.R. 164.506(c)(1) without prior written authorization?
a. A disclosure of PHI by a covered hospital to an ambulance company to help the ambulance company bill for transportation services provided to a patient transported to the hospital.
b. A disclosure of PHI by a covered hospital (Hospital A) to a second covered hospital (Hospital B) for the second hospital's quality assurance activities.
c. A disclosure of PHI by a covered hospital to a covered nursing home to help the covered nursing home treat a patient being transferred from the hospital to the nursing home.
d. A disclosure from a covered oncologist to a covered pathologist to enable the covered oncologist to better treat the patient.