A clinical nursing educator is conducting a workshop on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and legal mandates regarding protected health information (PHI). Which of the following statements by a participating nurse indicate a correct understanding of confidentiality protocols and permitted disclosures? Select all that apply.
- I am permitted to share a client's medical history with a receiving skilled nursing facility during a transfer to ensure continuity of care.Answer
- BIf a vulnerable older adult discloses physical abuse but asks me to keep it a secret, I am ethically bound to keep that information private to maintain trust.
- I am required to breach confidentiality and alert appropriate authorities if a client communicates a credible, specific threat to physically harm a named individual.Answer
- DI should delay reporting suspected child neglect to protective services until I can gather undeniable physical proof of the situation.
- I can discuss a client's diagnosis and treatment plan with their health insurance provider to facilitate the billing and reimbursement process.Answer
Answer
The statements demonstrating a correct understanding are that a nurse may share information for continuity of care during a transfer, must alert authorities about specific threats of harm to a named individual, and may share information for insurance billing purposes.
Under HIPAA regulations, nurses may disclose protected health information (PHI) for Treatment, Payment, and healthcare Operations (TPO) without separate authorization. This permits sharing information during facility transfers and with insurance providers. Additionally, legal exceptions to confidentiality exist, such as the duty to warn, which requires nurses to report specific, credible threats of violence to authorities to prevent imminent harm.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
HIPAA Permitted Disclosures and Exceptions to Confidentiality