Which of the following is considered PHI?

The correct answer is the identification of any information about a patient's health condition that can be used to identify them as protected health information (PHI). Under HIPAA, PHI includes any individually identifiable health information that is maintained or transmitted by a healthcare entity, or by any business associate of the healthcare entity. This definition expands beyond just medical records; it encompasses any details regarding a patient's health condition, treatment, or payment for healthcare that can be linked to the individual.

In this context, the specific focus is on the information's ability to identify the patient. Because patient health conditions are inherently private, all data linked to a specific individual’s health status falls under the umbrella of PHI, making it protected by law against unauthorized sharing or disclosure.

Other choices, such as information about a patient's best friend or social media posts made by a healthcare provider, might not inherently qualify as PHI, as they do not directly pertain to the patient's identifiable health information. Additionally, general health statistics devoid of personal identifiers do not meet the criteria for PHI, since they lack the connection to a specific individual, thus rendering them non-identifiable data.