A patient's insurance company calls the office to obtain additional information regarding a recently submitted claim. Which of the following regulations allows the office to release this information to an insurance company without a written authorization?

The correct choice pertains specifically to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which is part of the broader Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows healthcare providers to share patient information for certain purposes, including obtaining payment for healthcare services. This means that when an insurance company requests additional information about a claim, this sharing of information is permitted under the provisions of the Privacy Rule without requiring written authorization from the patient.

The Privacy Rule establishes national standards for protecting medical records and other personal health information, while also outlining the conditions under which such information can be disclosed. Specifically, it allows disclosures for payment activities, which would cover the scenario of an insurance company seeking information to process a claim.

The other options listed do not pertain specifically to the situation described. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, while encompassing the Privacy Rule, does not solely address the issue of information sharing without authorization. The Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act focuses on the confidentiality of information related to patient safety and quality improvement initiatives, rather than payment and billing information. The Americans with Disabilities Act is centered around preventing discrimination against individuals with disabilities, not healthcare data sharing regulations.