What requirement allows the transfer of records to a facility for follow-up care without patient consent?

The minimum necessary requirement is a key principle of HIPAA that permits covered entities to use and disclose PHI (Protected Health Information) without patient consent under certain circumstances. This requirement ensures that only the information necessary for a specific purpose is shared, thereby protecting patient privacy while still facilitating important follow-up care.

In this context, when transferring records to a facility for follow-up care, healthcare providers can share the necessary information to support continued treatment without needing explicit patient consent, as long as they adhere to the minimum necessary standard. This helps streamline healthcare delivery, especially in scenarios where timely care is crucial.

The other options have distinct functions and limitations within HIPAA. The patient consent requirement typically necessitates obtaining permission from the patient before disclosing their information, which can be impractical in urgent situations. The emergency disclosure rule is relevant when immediate medical care is needed without the opportunity for consent, but it is more limited to specific types of disclosures in urgent situations. The public health provision allows for the sharing of information for public health reasons, but it does not specifically address the transfer of records for follow-up care in a way that bypasses the need for patient consent.