What is defined as protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA?

Protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is defined primarily as any data that can identify an individual and relates to their past, present, or future physical or mental health, healthcare services provided, or payment for those services. This means that any information that can be linked to a specific person, whether it is their name, address, date of birth, health status, or other identifiable information, falls under this definition.

The emphasis on identifying a person is crucial because, to be classified as PHI, the data must have the potential to reveal something about an individual's health history or treatment in a way that could compromise their privacy if disclosed. This recognition underscores the importance of maintaining confidentiality and protecting individuals’ healthcare information.

In contrast, publicly available data does not qualify as PHI because it does not entail any specific individual's privacy concerns. Additionally, HIPAA encompasses more than just medical data recorded by physicians, as it also includes information from other healthcare providers and various formats of healthcare data. Lastly, HIPAA does not prohibit all health information; rather, it establishes guidelines for protecting certain types of information to maintain patients' privacy.