Question

Patient Confidentiality Activity assistants must observe laus regarding both patient confidentiality and the patient's right to privacy, it is crucial for the medical assistant to understand and com governing issues of patient confidentiality. Indicate by marking the appropriate box whether the medical assistant may discuss a patient's medical condition or reveal details from the medical record. ply with legal and ethical principles and the restrictions Yes No Yes, with Signed Release Patient's spouse or family member Patient's employer Patient's attorney Another health care provider Patient's insurance carrier Referring provider's clinic Credit bureau or collection agency Member of the clinic staff, as necessary for patient care Other patient People outside the clinic (friends, acquaintances) Patient's parent or legal guardian, except concerning issues of birth control, abortion. or STDs

Answer 1

1. Patient's spouse or family member

Ans: yes with signed release

Rationale:

• According to Hippa rule, the patient on admission signs a consent form and authorizes the legal representative for receiving the information.
• so, if the patient has authorized, the information can be shared. If not, the information should not be shared

2. To the employer

Ans: yes with patient's written consent provided that the patient has the capacity and understands

Rationale

• who will see the information
• what is being disclosed
• the purpose of disclosure
• the significant foreseeable consequences.

3. Patient's attorney

Ans: yes with patient's written consent that is signed and dated.

4. Another health care provider

Ans: Yes

Rationale:

• Yes. The Privacy Rule allows covered health care providers to share the protected health information for treatment purposes without patient authorization, as long as they use reasonable safeguards when doing so.
• These treatment communications may occur orally or in writing, by phone, fax, e-mail, or otherwise.
• a treating physician may be intimated about the current symptoms, physical examination findings, lab values and so on
• but if the patient has requested that a particular information is kept confidential,it should then be respected unless it causes death or serious harm. to others

5. Patient's insurance provider

Ans: yes with patient's written consent

6. Referring provider's clinic

Ans: no.unless patient has requested for the same.

7. Credit bureau or collection agency

Ans: No

Rationale:

• They need to sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement only for patient details and not medical condition.

8. Member of the clinic staff

Ans: Yes

Rationale:

Ans: Yes. The Privacy Rule allows covered health care providers to share the protected health information for treatment purposes without patient authorization, as long as they use reasonable safeguards when doing so.

• These treatment communications may occur orally or in writing, by phone, fax, e-mail, or otherwise.
• a treating physician may be intimated about the current symptoms, physical examination findings, lab values and so on
• but if the patient has requested that a particular information is kept confidential,it should then be respected unless it causes death or serious harm. to others

9. Other patient

Ans: no

10. People outside the clinic

Ans: No

11. Patient's parent or legal guardian

Ans: yes with signed release

Rationale:

• According to Hippa rule, the patient on admission signs a consent form and authorizes the legal representative for receiving the information.
• so, if the patient has authorized, the information can be shared. If not, the information should not be shared