What types of health information are there?
There are three categories of health information. The Privacy Rule identifies distinct methods for using and disclosing such information for research purposes. The researcher should be familiar with these choose the method most suited to his or her study. The authorization requirements for use are different for each. Individually Identifiable Health Information: includes any subset of health information, including demographic information collected from an individual, that: • Is created or received by a health care provider, health plan, employer, or health care clearinghouse (an organization that codes health data) • Relates to the past, present or future physical or mental health or condition, the past, present or future provision of care to an individual, or the past, present or future payment for the provision of health care to an individual • Identifies the individual (or there is a reasonable basis to believe that the information can be used to identify the individual) An authoriz
