HIPAA Privacy Regulation

Minimum Necessary Use and Disclosure

  • Minimum Necessary means that the laboratory will use and disclose only the minimum PHI necessary to accomplish its intended purpose, such as resulting the requested test.
  • The regulation recognizes that there are situations where all of the PHI on a patient can be released. These include:
    • When releasing PHI to another covered entity for treatment.
    • When releasing an individual's PHI to himself or herself.
    • When an individual has signed an authorization to release the PHI.
    • When required to do so by law.

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