Under HIPAA, what must patients provide for their information to be shared with another party?

Under HIPAA, for a patient's protected health information (PHI) to be shared with another party, written consent is necessary. This requirement is established to ensure that patients have clear control over who accesses their sensitive health information, promoting both privacy and patient rights.

Written consent serves as a clear, documented agreement from the patient that articulates their desire for their information to be shared, reducing ambiguity about their intentions. It also provides a tangible record that healthcare providers can refer to, which is particularly important in compliance with the regulations set forth by HIPAA.

While verbal consent and implied consent may sometimes play a role in specific circumstances within healthcare settings, they do not meet the stringent requirements put forth by HIPAA for the sharing of PHI with third parties. Acceptance of terms and conditions does not specifically pertain to the consent needed for sharing health information under HIPAA; it is more commonly associated with user agreements for services rather than direct consent regarding personal health information.