Final answer:
According to the Privacy Rule in HIPAA, patients must provide written authorization before health information is released to anyone else. This helps protect their privacy rights and gives them control over their own medical records.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the Privacy Rule in HIPAA, patients must provide written authorization before health information is released to anyone else. This written authorization serves as consent from the patient and ensures that their privacy rights are protected. Healthcare providers and entities covered by HIPAA are required to obtain this authorization before disclosing any patient health information, unless there is a specific exception under the law. The Privacy Rule helps safeguard patients' sensitive health information and allows them to have control over who has access to their personal medical records.