Question

1. What is the difference between a release of information authorization and an accounting of disclosures?

2. What is an “accounting of disclosures” as it pertains to the release of protected patient health information? It keeps records of disclosures of PHI for reasons/purposes other than treatment.

Answer 1

ANSWER 1

RELEASE OF INFORMATION AUTHORIZATION VS ACCOUNTING OF INFORMATION

Release of information authorization	Accounting of information
process of providing access to protected health information (PHI) to an entity authorized	action of keeping records of disclosures of PHI
Purpose is Legal process,insurance, payment,quality care.	purposes other than Treatment, Payment, or HealthcareOperations.
Requre tracking	Accounting of Disclosure do not require tracking

Release of information (ROI)

It is the process of providing access to protected health information (PHI) to an entity authorized to receive or review it.

Reasons for Disclosure and Release of Information include

• Patient care

• Legal process

• Life /Medical insurance

• Accident settlement

• Quality of care

Authorization vs. Consent

Authorization: patient authorizes release of protected health information that has already been created

Consent: patient authorizes release of protected health information that has not been created

Who can consent to release information

• Competent legal adult

• Legal guardian or parent of minor

• Executor

• Emancipated minor

• Married

• Self-supporting and does not live with parents

• Pregnant

Who can consent when patient can’t?

• Varies by state, but typically

• Legal guardian

• Spouse

• Adult child

• Parent

• Adult brother or sister

• Documentation to support claim of legal guardian required

  Authorization to release information

• Authorization must be in writing

• Fax or copies

ANSWER 2

Accounting of Disclosures (AOD)

it is the action of keeping records of disclosures of PHI for purposes other than Treatment, Payment, or HealthcareOperations.
Health care staff are required by law to provide patients a list of all the disclosures of their PHI .

The accounting must include

• The date of the disclosure
• the name and address of the entity who received the protected health information
• a brief description of the information disclosed
• a brief statement of the purpose of the disclosure

For multiple disclosures to the same person for the same purpose, the accounting is only required to include

• Along with the above elements ,the frequency, periodicity, or number of disclosures made during the accounting period.
• the date of the last such disclosure made during the accounting period.