PHI has been defined in HIPAA by 1) DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services) 2) CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) 3) CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) 4) State insurance commissioners
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is 1) DHHS (Department of Health and Human Services).
Explanation:
The term Protected Health Information (PHI) is defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which is a U.S. law that governs the protection of individuals’ health information. Specifically, the definition of PHI is provided by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the federal agency responsible for enforcing HIPAA regulations.
PHI refers to any individually identifiable health information that is transmitted or maintained in any form or medium (whether electronic, paper, or oral). This information pertains to a person’s physical or mental health condition, healthcare provision, or payment for healthcare services. The key element is that PHI must be personally identifiable, meaning it can be traced back to a specific individual. This includes not just medical records, but also personal identifiers such as name, address, Social Security number, and any other detail that could identify a person in connection to their health information.
HIPAA sets strict rules regarding how PHI must be handled, stored, and shared. Covered entities, such as healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses, are required to safeguard PHI and only disclose it when necessary for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, or when explicitly authorized by the individual or required by law.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and State insurance commissioners are involved in healthcare regulation, but they do not define PHI. The CDC focuses on public health and disease control, CMS oversees Medicare and Medicaid programs, and state insurance commissioners regulate health insurance policies at the state level. While they may have roles in ensuring health information privacy or security, the DHHS is the primary federal authority that defines and enforces PHI standards as part of HIPAA compliance.