In limited circumstances, the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits covered entities to use
and disclose health information without individual authorization. Covered entities may use and disclose protected health information without authorization for their own treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. This would include purposes such as quality assurance, utilization review, credentialing, and other activities that are part of ensuring appropriate treatment and payment. Limitations apply to uses and disclosures for the purpose of facilitating another party's activities.
Exceptions are allowed for a covered entity to disclose PHI to: These activities are referred to as treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (TPO). We may in the future see more clearly defined limitations to payment and healthcare operations activities. However, there are no limitations on treatment. If a healthcare provider requests the entire record to treat a patient, there should be no objection to that request. Doctors may need access to historical records to determine how to treat a critical patient. However, to bill for
services or make a payment, there is no need to see the test results; the only information needed is the fact that the test has been done. Covered entities may use or disclose protected health information for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations without the individual's authorization. Covered entities may also use and disclose protected
health information without individual authorization for certain public interest-related activities. These include:
These types of disclosures are to be documented in the Accounting of Disclosures and are considered non-routine. Routine disclosures are treatment, payment, and healthcare operations (TPO) and do not need to be listed on the Accounting of Disclosures log. If you have any questions, feel free to reach us by email at or by phone at 855-427-0427. Not a current HCP client? Schedule a free consultation. January 19, 2022
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Which of the following is a permitted use of disclosure of PHI?A covered entity may use and disclose protected health information for its own treatment, payment, and health care operations activities.
What are the 3 allowed uses of PHI?A covered entity is permitted, but not required, to use and disclose protected health information, without an individual's authorization, for the following purposes or situations: (1) To the Individual (unless required for access or accounting of disclosures); (2) Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations; (3) ...
What forms of PHI are covered under HIPAA?PHI is health information in any form, including physical records, electronic records, or spoken information. Therefore, PHI includes health records, health histories, lab test results, and medical bills. Essentially, all health information is considered PHI when it includes individual HIPAA identifiers.
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