Is Protected Health Information (PHI) categorized as health information that identifies an individual?

Protected Health Information (PHI) is indeed categorized as health information that can identify an individual. This includes a wide range of identifiable data related to an individual's past, present, or future physical or mental health, the provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare services. The defining feature of PHI is that it contains identifiers or is linked to health information that can be traced back to a specific individual. This characteristic underscores the importance of maintaining confidentiality and security around such information.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the definition of PHI. For instance, PHI is not limited to digital storage; it encompasses all formats of health information, whether paper, electronic, or oral. Additionally, the identification aspect of PHI is not contingent upon sharing it with third parties; it is primarily tied to the association of the information with an identifiable individual. Thus, the correct understanding of PHI is that it fundamentally includes any health-related information that can identify an individual, irrespective of its format or sharing status.