During afternoon clinic hours, an adult patient's mother telephones the office and requests detailed results of the patient's recent laboratory tests and treatment plan. According to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, what is the most appropriate FIRST action for the medical assistant?
Determine whether the patient has given written or verbal permission for the caller to receive the information.
Refer the caller to the billing department for further assistance.
Transfer the call directly to the healthcare provider without screening.
Tell the caller that the information can only be released after a court-issued subpoena is received.
Before any protected health information can be disclosed, the medical assistant must confirm that the patient has explicitly permitted this caller to receive it-for example, by locating a signed authorization in the chart or by obtaining the patient's verbal permission. HIPAA allows disclosure to family or friends only when the patient agrees or does not object. Simply consulting the provider, giving the information outright, or referring the caller elsewhere does not satisfy the legal duty to verify the patient's consent.
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