AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/hipaa-accounting-6-years
A patient asks for an accounting of disclosures of their PHI. How far back can it cover?
Six years before the request.
- One year
- Six years ✔
- Ten years
Why: Patients may get a list of certain disclosures made in the six years before the request. Routine treatment, payment and operations disclosures are left out.
Huh, didn't know that: Disclosures the patient authorized are also left out of the accounting.
Why did the accountant break up with the calculator? She felt she was being used.
Like this card?
References
Answer: Six years. Patients may get a list of certain disclosures made in the six years before the request. Routine treatment, payment and operations disclosures are left out.
- 45 CFR 164.528 (eCFR) www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.528
made by a covered entity in the six years prior to the date on which the accounting is requested
Checked 2026-10-10. - 45 CFR 164.528 (eCFR) www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.528
Pursuant to an authorization as provided in § 164.508
Checked 2026-10-10.
Think this answer is wrong? Tap "Challenge this answer" on the card in the game and tell us why.
More stuff everyone should know
Healthcare Privacy (HIPAA)How often must a covered entity give a patient an accounting of disclosures for free?Healthcare Privacy (HIPAA)Does HIPAA protect patient information that is spoken out loud, or only paper and computer records?Healthcare Privacy (HIPAA)A hospital's HR office keeps Dana's pre-hire physical in Dana's personnel file, as the employer. Is that file PHI?
That's stuff everyone should know.