Final answer:
PHI, or Protected Health Information, may only be disclosed to the individual, their representatives, and entities involved in their care or payment for care, unless consent is obtained or law requires it. This is regulated by HIPAA's Privacy Rule to balance privacy with the need for health information flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
PHI, which stands for Protected Health Information, refers to any information in a medical record that can be used to identify an individual, and that was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a health care service, such as a diagnosis or treatment.
PHI may not be disclosed to anyone other than the individual to whom it pertains, their authorized representatives, or entities such as healthcare providers and insurance companies for purposes of treatment, payment, and healthcare operations without the individual's explicit consent or as required by law.
Instances where PHI can be shared without consent include public health activities, research purposes (under certain conditions), and when required to avert a serious and imminent threat to health or safety.
It is governed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), specifically the Privacy Rule, which seeks to protect the privacy of personal health information while allowing the flow of health information needed to ensure high quality health care.