Georgia Navigator Practice Exam

What is the principle of Minimum Necessary Use and Disclosure in relation to PHI?

1. Allowing full access to all health information

2. Using only the minimum amount of PHI required for a specific purpose

3. Sharing PHI among all healthcare providers

4. Not disclosing any PHI under any circumstances

The correct answer is: Using only the minimum amount of PHI required for a specific purpose

The principle of Minimum Necessary Use and Disclosure in relation to Protected Health Information (PHI) is centered around the idea of safeguarding patient privacy while still allowing necessary access for healthcare operations. This principle mandates that when healthcare providers, insurers, or other entities handle PHI, they should only utilize or disclose the smallest amount of information necessary to achieve a specific purpose, such as treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. This approach helps to minimize the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive patient information. By limiting access to only what is needed, the principle works to balance patient privacy with the practical need for healthcare information to be shared efficiently among authorized personnel. It serves to protect patients’ rights and confidentiality while ensuring that healthcare providers can perform their essential functions effectively. Allowing full access to all health information would contravene the protective measures intended by HIPAA regulations. Sharing PHI among all healthcare providers indiscriminately would result in excessive exposure of sensitive information, while not disclosing any PHI under any circumstances would inhibit essential healthcare services and negatively impact patient care. Thus, focusing on the minimum amount of information necessary aligns with best practices for privacy and security in healthcare.