What uses of PHI are permitted under HIPAA in a review preparatory to research?
The “review preparatory to research” is an option that allows review (but not research use) of individually identifiable PHI by researchers and does not require authorization or waiver of authorization. In the “review preparatory to research” option, a covered entity may allow researchers to review PHI in the covered entity’s records as a preparation for research but may not permit researchers to collect any of the PHI for actual research use. For example, the researcher may be permitted to review PHI to determine whether there is enough information in the records to make a potential research project feasible; however, under the “review preparatory to research” the researcher may not transcribe information from the records for inclusion in research data. The covered entities whose records are reviewed in this preparation for research may require written assurance from the researcher that the pre-research review will be in accord with this HIPAA regulation. See also Question #17 above r
