What is meant by "protected health information" (PHI) under HIPAA?

"Protected health information" (PHI) under HIPAA refers specifically to medical information that can identify an individual. This includes any information that relates to an individual's health status, healthcare, or payment for healthcare services, as long as it can be linked to a specific person. The intent of HIPAA is to ensure that personal and sensitive healthcare information is kept private and secured, which is why the focus is on identifying details. This encompasses a wide range of data, from medical records and lab results to billing information, as long as it includes identifiers that could disclose the identity of an individual.

Understanding this definition is crucial for compliance with HIPAA regulations, which are designed to protect patient privacy and ensure that healthcare entities handle PHI with the necessary safeguards. In contrast, workplace injuries, general health statistics, and marketing data do not encompass the specific criteria needed to classify data as PHI under HIPAA, as they may not contain identifying information or personal health details.