COPE Health Scholars Practice Test

When can Protected Health Information (PHI) be disclosed legally?

1. For family inquiries

2. For promotional activities

3. For treatment, payment, or operations

4. For educational purposes

The correct answer is: For treatment, payment, or operations

Protected Health Information (PHI) can be disclosed legally primarily for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations due to the privacy regulations established by HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). This means that healthcare providers can share PHI with other providers to facilitate treatment of a patient, process health insurance claims for payment, and conduct operations like quality assessment and improvement activities. These stipulations ensure that while patient information is protected, it is also accessible enough to allow for effective healthcare delivery and related administrative tasks. In contrast, disclosures related to family inquiries, promotional activities, or educational purposes often do not fall under these exemptions without specific consent from the patient. For example, sharing information for marketing efforts or general educational purposes typically requires explicit patient authorization to ensure compliance with privacy regulations. Thus, the option regarding treatment, payment, or operations aptly reflects circumstances under which PHI can be disclosed legally while maintaining the integrity of patient confidentiality.