What is required for an organization to share PHI under HIPAA?

The requirement for an organization to share Protected Health Information (PHI) under HIPAA involves obtaining specific consent for each disclosure of that information. This approach ensures that the individual's privacy rights are protected and that they have control over who accesses their health information.

Under HIPAA, while there are certain exceptions that allow the sharing of PHI without consent, such as for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, the general rule is that any disclosure of PHI for other purposes requires explicit authorization from the individual. This guarantees that patients are informed and have the opportunity to agree to or decline the sharing of their personal health information in specific contexts.

In contrast to general or written consent covering broader situations, specific consent allows individuals to understand precisely what information is being shared, with whom, and for what purpose, reinforcing their autonomy and safeguarding their health data.