What do the letters in PHI stand for?

Protected Health Information
PHI is an acronym of Protected Health Information. HIPAA-covered entities are mostly healthcare providers, health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and their business associates or third-party service providers who have access to Protected Health Information.

What are forms of PHI?

PHI is health information in any form, including physical records, electronic records, or spoken information. Therefore, PHI includes health records, health histories, lab test results, and medical bills. Essentially, all health information is considered PHI when it includes individual identifiers.

Is PHI a phone number?

Names, addresses and phone numbers are NOT considered PHI, unless that information is listed with a medical condition, health care provision, payment data or something that states that they were seen at a particular clinic.

Is gender a PHI?

Health information such as diagnoses, treatment information, medical test results, and prescription information are considered protected health information under HIPAA, as are national identification numbers and demographic information such as birth dates, gender, ethnicity, and contact and emergency contact …

How long is PHI protected?

50 years
The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects the individually identifiable health information about a decedent for 50 years following the date of death of the individual.

Is age a PHI?

Examples of PHI include: Name. Address (including subdivisions smaller than state such as street address, city, county, or zip code) Any dates (except years) that are directly related to an individual, including birthday, date of admission or discharge, date of death, or the exact age of individuals older than 89.

What data is PHI?

Protected health information (PHI), also referred to as personal health information, is the demographic information, medical histories, test and laboratory results, mental health conditions, insurance information and other data that a healthcare professional collects to identify an individual and determine appropriate …

Is first name PHI?

Patient names (first and last name or last name and initial) are one of the 18 identifiers classed as protected health information (PHI) in the HIPAA Privacy Rule. HIPAA does not prohibit the electronic transmission of PHI.

What is not PHI?

Examples of health data that is not considered PHI: Number of steps in a pedometer. Number of calories burned. Blood sugar readings w/out personally identifiable user information (PII) (such as an account or user name)