What might information classified as PHI include?

Information classified as Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any health information that can be used to identify an individual and is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by a healthcare entity. It must relate to the past, present, or future physical or mental health or condition of an individual, the provision of healthcare to an individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare.

The correct choice involves identifiable health information provided by covered entities. These entities are typically healthcare providers, health plans, or healthcare clearinghouses that transmit any health information in electronic form. Identifiable health information can include names, addresses, social security numbers, medical records, and other information that can clearly link back to an individual. This aligns with the definition of PHI under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), emphasizing the importance of safeguarding this type of sensitive data to protect individuals' privacy rights.

In contrast, general health trends without any identifiers, anonymized health records, or only laboratory results do not fit the criteria for PHI. General trends lack identifiable information, which eliminates them from being classified as PHI. Anonymized health records are stripped of personal identifiers, meaning they cannot be linked back to an individual, thus