Question

Augusta Clinic has requested that Fulton Hospital send its health records from Helena Smith's most recent admission to the clinic for her follow-up appointment. Which of the following statements is true?

a) Augusta Clinic cannot access these records due to HIPAA regulations
b) Augusta Clinic can access these records only after obtaining patient authorization
c) Augusta Clinic can access these records for continuity of care without patient authorization
d) Fulton Hospital cannot disclose these records without legal consent

Answer 1

Under HIPAA, Augusta Clinic can access Helena Smith's health records from Fulton Hospital without additional patient authorization for the purpose of continuity of care.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which was enacted in 1996, has a directive that protects the privacy of individual health records. According to HIPAA regulations, healthcare providers are permitted to share health records for treatment purposes without requiring additional patient authorization. This is recognized as an exception for the continuity of care and is intended to facilitate a patient's treatment between multiple healthcare providers. In the scenario described, Augusta Clinic can access the health records from Fulton Hospital for Helena Smith's follow-up appointment, without her explicit authorization.

In the context of the scenario provided, continuity of care stands as an important exception to HIPAA privacy rules and permits the sharing of health records. This sharing of records is integral to ensuring that healthcare professionals can provide effective and informed care to their patients. As such, the correct answer to the question would be:

• Augusta Clinic can access these records for continuity of care without patient authorization.