What Is Personally Identifiable Information Under Hipaa?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Personally identifiable information is data relating directly or indirectly to an individual , from which the identity of the individual can be determined. Examples of PII include patient names, addresses, phone numbers, Social Security numbers, and bank account numbers.

What is considered personally identifiable information PII?

Personal Identifiable Information (PII) is defined as: Any representation of information that permits the identity of an individual to whom the information applies to be reasonably inferred by either direct or indirect means . ... This information can be maintained in either paper, electronic or other media.

What is the difference between PII and PHI?

PHI is an acronym of Protected Health Information, while PII is an acronym of Personally Identifiable Information . ... Health information relates to past, present, and future health conditions or physical/mental health that is related to the provision of healthcare services or payment for those services.

What qualifies for PII?

According to the NIST PII Guide, the following items definitely qualify as PII, because they can unequivocally identify a human being: full name (if not common), face, home address, email, ID number, passport number, vehicle plate number, driver's license, fingerprints or handwriting, credit card number, digital ...

Which of the following are examples of personally identifiable information PII )? HIPAA?

PII means information that can be linked to a specific individual and may include the following: Social Security Number ; DoD identification number; home address; home telephone; date of birth (year included); personal medical information; or personal/private information (e.g., an individual's financial data).

What are three examples of personal information?

Examples of personal information

a person's name, address, phone number or email address . a photograph of a person. a video recording of a person, whether CCTV or otherwise, for example, a recording of events in a classroom, at a train station, or at a family barbecue. a person's salary, bank account or financial ...

What is the best example of Personally Identifiable Information?

Personal identification numbers: social security number (SSN) , passport number, driver's license number, taxpayer identification number, patient identification number, financial account number, or credit card number. Personal address information: street address, or email address.

Which of the following is not required for an authorization to disclose PHI?

A covered entity is permitted , but not required, to use and disclose protected health information, without an individual's authorization, for the following purposes or situations: (1) To the Individual (unless required for access or accounting of disclosures); (2) Treatment, Payment, and Health Care Operations; (3) ...

Is IP address considered PHI?

It may be surprising that some of these items are PHI, such as IP addresses, however, the above-listed items are considered “individually identifiable health information .” This means that the information can be directly tied back to a specific patient.

When can you use or disclose PHI?

In general, a covered entity may only use or disclose PHI if either: (1) the HIPAA Rule specifically permits or requires it; or (2) the individual who is the subject of the information gives authorization in writing . We note that this blog only discusses HIPAA; other federal or state privacy laws may apply.

What is not PII information?

What are some examples of non-PII? Info such as business phone numbers and race, religion, gender, workplace, and job titles are typically not considered PII. But they should still be treated as sensitive, linkable info because they could identify an individual when combined with other data.

What is a PII violation?

One of the most familiar PII violations is identity theft , said Sparks, adding that when people are careless with information, such as Social Security numbers and people's date of birth, they can easily become the victim of the crime. ...

What is not PII employment history?

Depending on your occupation (i.e. federal, state or local government employees, elected officials, and non-profit employees), additional details of your employment (current and historical) may be reported or available publicly, and therefore not considered PII. This may include salary information .

What are examples of PII?

Examples include a full name, Social Security number, driver's license number, bank account number, passport number , and email address. We often talk about PII in the context of data breaches and identity theft.

What are some examples of PHI?

  • Patient names.
  • Addresses — In particular, anything more specific than state, including street address, city, county, precinct, and in most cases zip code, and their equivalent geocodes.
  • Dates — Including birth, discharge, admittance, and death dates.
  • Telephone and fax numbers.
  • Email addresses.

Which of the following are examples of sufficient physical safeguards for protecting health information?

  • Controlling building access with a photo-identification/swipe card system.
  • Locking offices and file cabinets containing PHI.
  • Turning computer screens displaying PHI away from public view.
  • Minimizing the amount of PHI on desktops.
  • Shredding unneeded documents containing PHI . ×
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.