What does the term 'disclosure' refer to in the context of PHI?

In the context of Protected Health Information (PHI), the term 'disclosure' specifically refers to the act of communicating or sharing PHI with external entities not directly involved with the healthcare provision or treatment of a patient. This could include instances where information is shared with insurance companies, law enforcement, or other organizations that do not have a direct role in the patient's care.

Understanding this definition underlines the necessity of protecting patient privacy and ensuring that any disclosure of PHI adheres to regulations set by HIPAA. While there are scenarios in which PHI can be shared for treatment or care coordination, those actions are typically classified as 'uses' rather than 'disclosures.' Making records public for community benefit, as suggested in one of the other options, would generally not be permissible under HIPAA without explicit authorization from the patient, reinforcing the importance of the privacy of health information.