What does "individually identifiable" mean in the context of health information?

The term "individually identifiable" in the context of health information refers to any data that clearly identifies an individual or could be used to identify someone. This might include direct identifiers such as a person's name, Social Security number, or medical record number, which can easily link the information to a specific individual. It can also include indirect identifiers, such as demographic information or geographical details that, when combined with other information, could lead to the identification of an individual.

Understanding this concept is crucial for compliance with the HIPAA Privacy Rule, which aims to protect individuals’ health information from unauthorized disclosure while allowing for necessary sharing of information in certain contexts. Thus, the emphasis on identification is fundamental to ensuring privacy and security in health data management, which is why "the information identifies a person or allows identification" is the correct choice. This understanding distinguishes health information that requires privacy protection from general or less sensitive data types.