HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): how an expert lowers the risk (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.8)
An expert removes (suppresses), coarsens (generalises) or perturbs values until the risk is very small; the Rule prescribes no single method.
Dated 17 Oct 2026Source checked 17 Oct 2026Basis: primary text
In the source's own words
“If an expert determines that the risk of identification is greater than very small, the expert may modify the information to mitigate the identification risk to that level, as required by the de-identification standard. In general, the expert will adjust certain features or values in the data to ensure that unique, identifiable elements no longer, or are not expected to, exist.”
Where it was read
Also read from the same source
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): who is an expert (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.2)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): how an expert works (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.6)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): no fixed numerical risk level (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.3)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): methods and results documented (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.6)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): time-limited determinations (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 2.4)
- HHS OCR guidance on de-identification (2012): what actual knowledge means (HHS OCR, Guidance Regarding Methods for De-identification of PHI, 26 November 2012, section 3.6)
Figures it counts in
It is shown on its own, not counted into a figure.
Cited in this guide