What is the primary method for de-identifying information?

The primary method for de-identifying information under HIPAA involves stripping it of all identifying information or employing statistical and expert techniques to mitigate the risk of identification. This process is essential to ensure that individuals cannot be readily identified from the data, which is a foundational goal of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.

De-identification can be achieved in two ways: the safe harbor method, which removes certain identifiers like names, addresses, and Social Security numbers, and the expert determination method, where an expert assesses that the risk of re-identification is very small. By effectively removing or neutralizing identifiers, organizations can use and share data for research and analysis without compromising patient privacy.

The other choices either address security measures or access controls rather than the specific actions required to de-identify information, which do not directly meet the need for compliance with the de-identification standards of HIPAA. Therefore, they do not contribute to the primary goal of maintaining patient confidentiality while allowing for the use of information in a way that complies with the law.