This Protected Health Information (PHI) Disclosure Decision Questionnaire is Free and does not require an Email to use. You can use it as often as you like.
It follows the decision tool Health and Human Services (HHS) developed and is more user-friendly than clicking through the interactive PDF document.
The questionnaire will help you understand how the Privacy Rule applies from the standpoint of the source of the health information.
Protected health information (PHI) is any information that can be used to identify a person and is related to their health, including:
- Medical records
- Healthcare provider conversations
- Health insurer information
- Billing information
- Demographic data
- Medical histories
- Test results
- Insurance information
The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities and gives patients various rights. At the same time, the Privacy Rule is balanced to permit the disclosure of personal health information needed for patient care and other vital purposes.
Decision Process Flow Chart
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created a decision tool to assist emergency preparedness and recovery planners in determining how to access and use health information under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule.
While the tool’s initial purpose focused on emergency planning for persons with disabilities, it applies to most emergency planning efforts. The intended audiences are covered entities and local, state, and federal emergency preparedness and recovery planners.
The following process flow chart displays the flow of questions to determine whether disclosing health information is a covered entity.
