Which of the following exemplifies an incidental disclosure?

An incidental disclosure refers to the unintentional exposure of a patient's protected health information that occurs as a byproduct of an otherwise permissible disclosure. In the context of this question, having a sign-in sheet that includes the patient's name and provider exemplifies an incidental disclosure because it is an integral part of the check-in process in a healthcare setting. While the sign-in sheet is used primarily for administrative purposes, it could lead to situations where others in the waiting area might see the names of patients, and this is considered an incidental disclosure.

This situation does not violate patient privacy laws as long as the information is shared in a manner that is minimally disruptive to the patient’s privacy. The other options involve intentional disclosures of sensitive information that require authorization or consent under HIPAA regulations, which makes option C distinct in the context of incidental disclosures.