What kind of information is protected under PHI regulations?

Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses any information that relates to a person's health status, healthcare provision, or payment history for healthcare that can be linked to a specific individual. This includes a wide range of data, such as medical records, test results, and any other identifiable information that could be used to determine an individual’s health condition or treatment history.

The key factor defining PHI is that it must either identify the individual or provide a basis for identification, thus protecting the privacy of patients. This definition aligns with the standards set by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which safeguards sensitive patient information from being disclosed without the patient’s consent or knowledge.

Considering other options, signed consent forms and non-electronic records are specific components of what could potentially be included under broader categories of PHI, but they do not encompass the full spectrum of information protected under the regulations. Similarly, while communication between providers may involve PHI, it does not exclusively capture all types of information that are considered protected. Therefore, the broadest and most comprehensive answer regarding the protection under PHI regulations is any information related to patient health.