South Carolina Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE) Practice Exam

Patient records may only be released to which of the following?

1. Family members

2. Insurance companies

3. Legal personnel

4. Healthcare providers only

The correct answer is: Legal personnel

Patient records are protected under various privacy laws, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under HIPAA regulations, patient information can be disclosed to specific entities without the patient's consent for certain circumstances, particularly legal requirements. Legal personnel often require access to patient records as part of legal investigations, court proceedings, or other legal matters. When requested appropriately, such as through a subpoena or court order, healthcare providers are legally obligated to release the records to legal personnel to comply with the law. This ensures that the rights of individuals are respected while allowing necessary access to information for legal processes. In contrast, while family members, insurance companies, and healthcare providers have roles in the patient's care and treatment, their access to patient records typically depends on the patient's consent or specific guidelines set out by the law. For example, insurance companies may require access to certain patient data for billing purposes, but usually, they need prior authorization from the patient. Healthcare providers can access records as part of coordinated care, but again, there are rules about the extent and nature of this access. Similarly, family members would need the patient's consent or legal authority to access these records unless they are designated as a personal representative. Thus, the specific legal framework governing healthcare privacy and