What happens to PHI when a patient changes healthcare providers?

When a patient changes healthcare providers, the new provider may request access to the patient's protected health information (PHI) with the patient's consent. This process ensures that continuity of care is maintained, allowing the new provider to have the necessary information to make informed decisions about the patient's treatment. In accordance with HIPAA regulations, healthcare providers can share PHI for treatment purposes as long as the patient has given permission. This empowers patients by allowing them to control who accesses their sensitive information while also facilitating effective management of their healthcare.

The other options suggest actions that are not aligned with HIPAA regulations. For instance, patients do not lose all rights to their PHI; rather, they retain control and can request that their information be shared or not shared as they see fit. Moreover, healthcare providers are not required to destroy records when a patient changes providers; they must maintain records for a specific timeframe according to state and federal laws. Additionally, it is not accurate that the new provider cannot access any previous information, as they can access it if the patient consents to the sharing of their records.