What form of data can only be shared with patient consent under HIPAA?

Protected Health Information (PHI) refers to any individually identifiable health information, including demographic data, that is created, received, or maintained by a healthcare entity. Under HIPAA, PHI can only be shared without patient consent for specific purposes such as treatment, payment, or healthcare operations. However, any disclosure outside of these uses requires explicit consent from the patient. This is crucial because PHI contains sensitive information that relates directly to an individual's health and treatment, making privacy and protection of such data a priority under HIPAA regulations.

In contrast, general health statistics, information about public health, and non-identifiable health information are not subject to the same stringent consent requirements because they either do not identify specific individuals or are aggregated data that doesn’t impact patient privacy. Consequently, the importance of obtaining patient consent when sharing PHI is vital for adhering to HIPAA's privacy standards and ensuring that individuals' rights regarding their personal health information are respected.