tci General Surgery Coding Alert - 2024 Issue Q1

Reader Question: Clarify HIPAA Terminology

Question: What is the difference between “consent” and “authorization” in the context of the HIPAA privacy rule? AAPC Subscriber Answer: Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy rule, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allows covered entities (CEs) to obtain patient consent for protected health information (PHI). “The Privacy Rule permits, but does not require, a covered entity voluntarily to obtain patient consent for uses and disclosures of protected health information for treatment, payment, and health care operations. Covered entities that do so have complete discretion to design a...

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