Final answer:
Covered entities can use or disclose PHI without patient consent in certain circumstances, such as for treatment, payment, public health activities, compliance with law enforcement, reporting abuse or neglect, and national security concerns. They can also use de-identified data for research purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Covered entities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are permitted to use or disclose Protected Health Information (PHI) in certain situations primarily related to treatment, payment, and healthcare operations.
For instance, healthcare providers may share PHI for the purpose of treating another patient or to refer a patient to another provider. They can also use PHI for billing, claims management, and medical data processing.
Moreover, HIPAA includes provisions such as public health reporting, abuse or neglect reporting, and compliance with law enforcement requests. For example, covered entities may disclose PHI to public health authorities for controlling diseases or reporting adverse events related to the quality, safety, or effectiveness of FDA-regulated products.
In cases of suspected abuse or domestic violence, relevant information may be reported by healthcare providers to government authorities.
Health information may also be shared with law enforcement without a patient's authorization under specific circumstances, such as in the case of court orders, subpoenas, or to locate a suspect.
Besides, HIPAA has exceptions for matters of national security, workplace injuries for workers' compensation claims, and de-identified data for research, where privacy risks are minimized.