what is phi in healthcare

PHI stands for Protected Health Information, which is any information in the medical record or designated record set that can be used to identify an individual and that was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a health care service such as diagnosis or treatment. This includes records of doctors visits, prescription medication details, laboratory test results, insurance information, and other personally identifiable information. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) provides federal protections for personal health information held by covered entities, such as healthcare providers, and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information. HIPAA defines PHI as data that relates to the past, present, or future health of an individual; the provision of healthcare to an individual; or the payment for the provision of healthcare to an individual. The Privacy Rule defines PHI as individually identifiable health information, held or maintained by a covered entity or its business associates acting for the covered entity, that is transmitted or maintained in any form or medium.