I did in fact mean replace. To repair the driver-side handle on my car, the entire interior panel had to be replaced. The passenger side handle is attached differently, according to the dealer, and can be repaired without replacing the interior panel. The work was completed under warranty, and I doubt they would have paid for a new panel unless it was necessary.

As an aside, I'd recommend anyone getting this work done check the small plastic cover behind the interior handle. It is a flimsy plastic piece, apparently easy to break when removing to get the panel off. The tech that worked on my car broke one of the "prongs" that hold this piece in place and simply stuck it back in there, perhaps hoping I wouldn't notice. It came loose after a couple days on the road.