HIPAA's purpose includes protecting confidentiality, security, and proper use of what type of information?

• A. Individually identifiable health information
• B. De-identified data
• C. Financial records
• D. Public health statistics

Answer: (A)

HIPAA protects confidentiality, security, and proper use of information that can identify a patient and relates to their health or healthcare. Individually identifiable health information means any health data that identifies an individual or could reasonably be used to identify them, and that pertains to the person’s past, present, or future health conditions, the care they receive, or payments for that care. This is the type of information HIPAA governs through its Privacy and Security rules, guiding how it must be stored, accessed, shared, and protected. De-identified data has identifiers removed, so it is not considered PHI and isn’t subject to HIPAA protections in the same way. Financial records may be included only insofar as they tie to health information and payments; but the focus of HIPAA is the health information linked to an identifiable person. Public health statistics, when aggregated and de-identified, generally aren’t treated as PHI.