What is NOT considered protected health information under HIPAA?

The correct answer is that statistical health data about a group of patients is not considered protected health information (PHI) under HIPAA. HIPAA defines PHI as any individually identifiable health information that is transmitted or maintained in any form or medium. This includes a patient’s medical history, information concerning care provided to an individual, and a patient’s Social Security number, as each of these can be linked to a specific individual and may reveal confidential health information.

Conversely, statistical health data that aggregate information about a group of patients does not contain identifiable information that can be traced back to an individual. Because it lacks individual identifiers, such data cannot be used to ascertain personal health details about specific patients, thereby exempting it from the protections afforded by HIPAA.