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AhaBulb: Stuff Everyone Should Know · ahabulb.com/hipaa-deid-dates-year

Under Safe Harbor, which part of a patient's admission date may stay in de-identified data?

Only the year.

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  1. Only the year ✔
  2. The month and year
  3. The day of the month

Why: Every part of a date tied to a person, except the year, must be removed. That covers birth, admission, discharge and death dates.

Huh, didn't know that: A record that says only 2024 passes Safe Harbor; one that says March 2024 does not.

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Why are calendars so popular? They have lots of dates.
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References

Answer: Only the year. Every part of a date tied to a person, except the year, must be removed. That covers birth, admission, discharge and death dates.

  1. 45 CFR 164.514 (eCFR) www.ecfr.gov/current/title-45/subtitle-A/subchapter-C/part-164/subpart-E/section-164.514
    All elements of dates (except year) for dates directly related to an individual, including birth date, admission date, discharge date
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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