HIPAA
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Overview
Understanding the HIPAA Minimum Necessary Rule
HIPAA limits PHI access to only what’s needed, reducing risk through strict role-based controls.
Understanding the HIPAA Minimum Necessary Rule
The Minimum Necessary Rule is a core principle of the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
It requires organizations to limit the use, disclosure, and access to PHI to the minimum necessary to accomplish the intended purpose.
This means:
Only authorized personnel should access PHI
Access should be restricted to the specific data needed for each task
Disclosures should be evaluated to ensure they meet the minimum necessary standard
To comply, organizations must implement:
Role-based access controls
Policies and procedures defining how the minimum necessary determinations are made
Employee training to ensure awareness of this requirement
Applying the Minimum Necessary Rule also helps reduce data exposure risks, supporting privacy goals under GDPR and ISO 27001.
