What is the term used for the release, transfer, or sharing of health information with another individual or entity outside the healthcare organization?

The correct term for the release, transfer, or sharing of health information with another individual or entity outside the healthcare organization is "disclosure." In the context of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), disclosure refers specifically to the actions taken to disclose protected health information (PHI) to parties that are not part of the covered entity’s workforce. This might occur in various scenarios, such as when a patient consents to have their health information sent to another doctor or when a healthcare provider shares data for billing purposes.

Confidentiality pertains to the obligation to protect personal health information from unauthorized access and is more about the principles of protecting health information rather than the act of sharing it. Authorization is a process that involves obtaining consent from the patient before sharing their health information but does not define the act of sharing itself. Compliance denotes adherence to laws and regulations, including HIPAA, but does not specifically describe the action of releasing health information. Thus, "disclosure" is the most accurate term for this process.