E/M Coding Alert - 2021 Issue 1
HIPAA: Protect Patient Information Beyond the Chart
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Article Overview
This article is a compliance-focused overview for healthcare practices, especially those handling general surgery patients, that reviews how protected health information extends beyond the chart and how HIPAA privacy exceptions were addressed during the COVID-19 public health emergency. It covers broad categories of personal identifiers, the role of covered entities and business associates, and general situations in which disclosures may be allowed under federal guidance. The piece is useful for staff, compliance personnel, and clinicians who need a non-technical refresher on privacy obligations and the types of emergency-related information sharing discussed by the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding what counts as protected health information and when emergency-related disclosures may be permitted helps practices reduce privacy risk, support compliant workflows, and stay aligned with federal guidance during public health events.
Article Sections
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Look Beyond the Medical Record
Explains that protected health information can include more than chart content and discusses broad categories of personal identifiers that may be associated with a patient. It also addresses the distinction between identifiable and de-identified information.
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Clarify PHE-Related Privacy Exceptions
Summarizes the general privacy framework that continued during the public health emergency and outlines broad categories of disclosures discussed in federal guidance. It also references the roles of covered entities, business associates, and the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
What You Will Learn
- How protected health information is defined beyond the medical record
- Which broad categories of personal identifiers are discussed in federal guidance
- How the public health emergency affected HIPAA privacy guidance
- What general types of emergency-related disclosures are addressed by OCR
- Why covered entities and business associates need a basis for disclosure decisions
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Compliance officers
- Physicians
- Practice managers
- General surgery practices
- Healthcare administrative staff
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