Which scenario allows a patient to request a restriction of PHI?

A patient can request a restriction of their protected health information (PHI) in circumstances where they are paying for their healthcare services completely out of pocket and the covered entity (CE) agrees to the restriction. This situation allows the patient to control who can access their information, particularly if they want to keep their healthcare details private from insurance companies or government programs.

When a patient pays entirely out of pocket, they have more leverage to dictate the handling of their PHI since there are no insurance claims being filed that would typically require sharing information with third parties. The covered entity has the discretion to agree to this request, offering the patient greater confidentiality and peace of mind regarding their healthcare choices.

The other scenarios do not provide the same opportunity for a patient to request restrictions on their PHI. For instance, requesting a restriction across all healthcare providers could be impractical and unrealistic, as communication and care coordination are essential in healthcare. Being on government assistance does not inherently grant a patient the right to restrict access to their information, and having been denied coverage is also unrelated to the ability to impose restrictions on how their PHI is shared or used.