What does minimum necessary mean in disclosing PHI?
Minimum necessary is a description of the principle behind all disclosures of PHI, except for those made between health care providers for treatment purposes. This means that the information disclosed is the minimum necessary for the specific disclosure, i.e., information being disclosed for payment purposes does not require information about the treatment progress. The major exception to the minimum necessary principle is when the treatment itself is being discussed, i.e., in supervision or consultation.
