What action is considered a breach under HIPAA?

Sharing Protected Health Information (PHI) without patient consent or appropriate authorization is indeed considered a breach under HIPAA. This law is designed to protect the privacy and security of individuals' medical information. Under HIPAA, PHI includes any information that relates to a patient's health status, provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare that can be linked to an individual.

An essential requirement of HIPAA is that healthcare providers must obtain explicit consent from patients before disclosing their PHI, except in specific circumstances such as when required by law. When PHI is shared without the patient’s consent or without the proper authorization, it violates the patients' rights to control their personal information and privacy. This is a fundamental aspect of patients' trust in the healthcare system, which HIPAA aims to uphold.

In contrast, actions like providing patient information during routine audits, correcting patient records, and discussing treatment plans with other healthcare providers can typically be conducted within the bounds of HIPAA, as long as they adhere to the regulations and the information is managed appropriately. These actions generally support the continuity of care and enhance patient safety without compromising privacy if carried out under the necessary guidelines.