What is PHI?

Protected Health Information, commonly referred to as PHI, encompasses any information that can be used to identify an individual and is related to their health conditions, healthcare services, or payment for healthcare services. This includes a wide array of data such as medical histories, test results, treatment information, and other health-related details that are maintained by healthcare providers, health plans, and other entities involved in healthcare.

The term "protected" indicates that there are specific legal protections surrounding this information, primarily governed by regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Under HIPAA, PHI must be kept confidential and secure, ensuring that it is not disclosed to unauthorized individuals or entities. This legal framework is in place to safeguard patient privacy and prevent misuse of sensitive health data.

Other terms presented in the options may relate to health information but do not capture the full essence and legal significance of the term PHI. "Public Health Information" refers to data related to health trends and conditions in a population rather than individual data. "Personal Health Information" might suggest individual health data but lacks the specificity of being legally protected. "Patient Health Insurance" pertains to coverage and is not a category of health information itself. Thus, the understanding of PHI is