What distinguishes PHI from ePHI?

The distinction between PHI (Protected Health Information) and ePHI (electronic Protected Health Information) is crucial in understanding how health information is classified and protected under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). ePHI is specifically defined as PHI that is created, stored, transmitted, or received in electronic form. This means that while PHI encompasses all forms of health information—regardless of the medium—inclusive of paper records or verbal communication, ePHI is limited to data that exists in an electronic format.

This distinction is important in the context of data protection, as it helps organizations implement appropriate safeguards tailored to the type of data they handle. Since ePHI poses additional risks due to potential exposure to cyber threats, it requires specific measures under HIPAA regulations to ensure its security and privacy.

The other options present inaccuracies regarding the definitions of PHI and ePHI. For example, stating that PHI is broader than ePHI in a way that it includes all health information does not differentiate the electronic aspect captured by ePHI. Likewise, suggesting ePHI excludes physical records misrepresents its definition by conflating the distinction between types of records rather than focusing solely on the electronic format. Additionally, the