What constitutes Protected Health Information (PHI)?

Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to a specific individual. The defining characteristic of PHI is that it is information that is not publicly available and is considered private unless the patient explicitly provides consent for its disclosure. This includes details such as medical records, treatment information, and personal identifiers like names and social security numbers.

In the context of healthcare regulations like the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), safeguarding PHI is crucial to maintaining patient confidentiality and trust. The definition emphasizes the patient’s control over who can access their health information, which is why it is deemed private unless permission for sharing is granted.

Other options represent data types or scenarios that do not align with the concept of PHI. Publicly shared health records are accessible to anyone and lack the privacy element that characterizes PHI. Health statistics available for research typically do not include personal identifiers, making them not subject to PHI regulations. Lastly, data shared for marketing purposes often does not regard patient consent or protection of individual privacy, which is fundamental to the distribution of PHI.