Authorization for the use or disclosure of combined patient-specific health information is referred to as a(n) _____ authorization.

The correct choice in this context is "compound" authorization. In healthcare law, a compound authorization refers to the consent given by a patient for the use or disclosure of their combined health information, which may involve multiple categories of information or multiple recipients. This concept is particularly significant when dealing with sensitive information that spans across various health records or when different healthcare entities need to share information for coordinated care.

Compound authorizations play an essential role in maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of patient information while also allowing for necessary information sharing among healthcare providers. By requiring a specific authorization for the use and disclosure of patient-specific health information that is not generalized, compound authorizations ensure that patients have control over who views their comprehensive health information.

The other choices, such as "generic," "expanded," and "general," do not specifically capture the idea of combining various types of health information under a singular consent framework, which is the key characteristic of compound authorization. Generic and general typically refer to broader or less specific types of authorizations, while expanded may imply an extension of authority without the specific nuance of combining various health information for consent purposes.