CITI Program HSR Social & Behavioral Education (SBE) Practice Exam

The classification of health information related to research, marketing, and fundraising under uses or disclosures that generally require specific written authorization reflects the stringent privacy protections that HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) puts in place to safeguard individuals' protected health information (PHI).

Under HIPAA, many uses of health information are subject to strict regulations to ensure confidentiality and respect for individuals' privacy. Specifically, these categories include any activities that involve using PHI for purposes beyond patient care, such as research, marketing, or fundraising. Such uses typically necessitate an individual's explicit, informed consent in the form of a written authorization, ensuring that individuals have control over their sensitive health information.

This framework exists to protect patients, as it requires that they be informed about how their health data will be used or shared and gives them the power to decide whether they wish to authorize such use. This level of protection is critical in the context of research, marketing, and fundraising activities where there may be potential for profit or broader distribution of personal health data.