What is required under the Privacy Rule for Susan Hall's record release to Central City Clinic?

The correct answer is that this "public interest and benefit" disclosure does not require the patient's authorization. Under the Privacy Rule of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), certain disclosures of Health Information may be made without patient authorization if they serve a public interest, such as public health activities, law enforcement, or health oversight activities.

In this case, if the release of Susan Hall's health records to Central City Clinic qualifies as serving a public interest—perhaps related to necessary medical treatment or research that benefits public health—it can be disclosed without obtaining explicit written consent from the patient. This provision ensures that essential health information can flow efficiently for purposes that ultimately aim to benefit individuals and the wider community, while still maintaining privacy standards.

Understanding the context of the Privacy Rule helps clarify why this disclosure can occur without authorization, highlighting the balance between patient privacy and public health needs that the rule aims to maintain. It also indicates an awareness of what constitutes a "public interest" scenario in health data sharing.