Which of the following best describes PHI?

The term "Protected Health Information" (PHI) is defined under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) as any individually identifiable health information held or transmitted by a covered entity. This encompasses a wide range of health information, including data related to an individual's past, present, or future physical or mental health conditions, the provision of healthcare to that individual, or payment for the provision of healthcare that can be used to identify that individual.

Option C accurately captures this definition by stating that PHI includes any health information that can identify an individual. This includes a combination of personal identifiers such as names, Social Security numbers, and other demographic information alongside health-related data.

Considering the other choices, they do not encompass the full breadth of what PHI represents. For instance, while all medical records are part of PHI, option A is too broad and fails to specify that it's the identifiable components that define it. Option B is limited to billing information, which is only a small part of the wider category of health information. Option D refers to general health data collected from the public, which does not include identifiable patient information and thus falls outside the definition of PHI. Therefore, understanding that PHI includes all identifiable health information ensures compliance