What type of information does HIPAA protect?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is designed primarily to protect sensitive patient information known as protected health information (PHI). PHI includes any information that relates to an individual's health status, provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare that can be linked to a specific individual. This encompasses a broad range of data, such as medical records, treatment details, health insurance information, and any other data that can identify an individual.

HIPAA establishes standards to ensure the confidentiality and security of PHI, thereby safeguarding the individual’s privacy in the healthcare system. Understanding the focused scope of HIPAA is crucial for compliance and for maintaining the trust of patients in healthcare providers. Other types of information, such as public health data, general patient records, or financial information not directly related to healthcare, do not fall under the stringent confidentiality and security regulations imposed by HIPAA.