Question

In which of the following situations must a covered entity provide an appeal process for denials to requests from individuals to see their own health information?

a)When access to psychotherapy notes is requested
b) when the covered entity is a correctional institution
c) when a licensed healthcare professional has determined that access to PHI would endanger someone
d) when the covered entity has acted under the direction of a correctional instituion

Answer 1

A covered entity under HIPAA must provide an appeal process for denials of requests to access health information when the entity is a correctional institution. Other scenarios, including psychotherapy notes access and professional determination of endangerment, do not require an appeals process.

Step-by-step explanation:

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), a covered entity must provide an appeal process for denials to requests from individuals to see their own health information in certain circumstances. A covered entity must allow appeals except when the denial involves access to psychotherapy notes, is at the direction of a correctional institution, or when a licensed healthcare professional has determined that access to Protected Health Information (PHI) would endanger someone (such as the individual or others). Therefore, the situation where a covered entity must provide an appeal process from the options given would be when the covered entity is a correctional institution, as the other scenarios are exceptions to the rule.