What type of consent is required to share PHI for treatment purposes?

Sharing protected health information (PHI) for treatment purposes typically requires implied consent. This means that when a patient seeks treatment from a healthcare provider, it is understood that the provider will need to share the patient's information with other professionals involved in their care for the purpose of treating that patient effectively.

Implied consent generally arises from the context of the relationship and what is typically expected in medical practice, rather than from a formal, written agreement. For example, if a patient goes to a doctor for a check-up, it is inherently understood that relevant health information will be shared among healthcare providers involved in that patient’s treatment.

In contrast, explicit consent involves a clear and direct agreement, such as a signed document where a patient agrees to share information. Written consent generally emphasizes formal documentation which might not be necessary for treatment-related sharing under HIPAA regulations. Verbal consent may be appropriate in some informal situations but does not carry the same weight as written consent in legal terms.

Thus, implied consent aligns with the expectation that healthcare providers will collaborate and communicate necessary information in the ongoing treatment of a patient without requiring additional consent each time information is shared for those treatment purposes.