Which statement about PHI is true?

• A. PHI includes health data.
• B. PHI includes only financial data.
• C. PHI excludes demographic data.
• D. PHI consists only of non-clinical information.

Answer: (B)

PHI is any health information that can identify an individual and relates to the person’s past, present, or future health, the care they receive, or the payment for that care. That means health data sits at the core of PHI; it isn’t limited to financial details alone. Financial information used for billing is part of PHI when it can be linked to a specific patient, but PHI also includes diagnoses, treatment plans, test results, and other clinical data, along with demographic information used to identify the person. Demographic data aren’t excluded—they’re commonly part of PHI because they help identify the individual. Non-clinical information by itself wouldn’t be PHI unless it relates to health care or payment for care and can identify the patient. So, PHI includes health data.