Under which set of conditions may EMTs release patient information without the patient's consent?

• A. continuity of care; billing; subpoena; crimes
• B. continuity of care; billing; subpoena; privacy
• C. continuity of care; billing; subpoena; warrants
• D. continuity of care; billing; subpoena; violations

Answer: (A)

When EMTs can release patient information without consent, it’s about allowing disclosures that are necessary for care, payment, or legal obligations. The four situations that fit this are sharing details to ensure continuity of care with other providers involved in the patient’s treatment, releasing information for billing purposes so services can be billed and reimbursed, complying with a legal demand such as a subpoena, and providing information to support investigations or reporting of crimes as required by law. These are standard, permitted disclosures that don't rely on patient consent.

So the best set is continuity of care; billing; subpoena; crimes. In contrast, terms focused on privacy emphasize protecting information rather than releasing it, and while warrants or violations can involve disclosure, they’re not the combination described here.