What Is “Protected Health Information” …?
HIPAA defines “protected health information” (PHI) as information that relates to: Your past, present or future physical or mental health condition. The fact that you have received treatment for a physical or mental health condition. Any past, present or future payment information for your health care through Medicaid, Medicare or other insurance companies. More and more, a persons healthcare information is kept on computers. The law is designed to ensure that all of the information about you that is stored on computers or in any other form, such as in a chart, is kept safe and confidential. The information that is protected by HIPAA includes information that you provide and information that is received or written by a health care professional, health plan or employer.
“Protected health information” is personally identifiable information regarding a person’s past, present or future medical condition or the payment for medical care. For example, protected health information would include information about a person’s physical, mental or behavioral condition that might be found on a doctor’s report used for underwriting or claims management.
