Protected Health Information -PHI
Protected health information (PHI) is the related to an individual’s health status or healthcare services that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by a covered entity or its business associates. It includes data that can be used to identify the individual, such as their name, address, social security number, or medical record number, as well as facts about their health condition, diagnosis, treatment, and payment for healthcare services.
The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects the privacy and security by establishing national standards for the use and disclosure of covered entities and their business associates. Covered entities are required to implement administrative, physical, and technical safeguards to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability, and to obtain written authorization from individuals before using or disclosing their data for certain purposes.
Individuals have certain rights with respect to it, including the right to access and receive a copy of their data, the right to request that certain uses and disclosures be restricted, and the right to file a complaint if they believe their privacy rights have been violated.
This is a critical component of healthcare delivery and is essential for providing high-quality healthcare services. However, it is also sensitive and must be protected to prevent unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides a framework for protecting the privacy and security and ensuring that individuals have control over their health data.
