What does ePHI stand for?

ePHI stands for Electronic Protected Health Information. This term is pivotal within the context of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which establishes national standards for the protection of certain health information. ePHI refers specifically to any protected health information that is created, stored, transmitted, or received in electronic form. This encompasses a wide range of data, including patient medical records, billing information, and other sensitive information that can be used to identify an individual. Understanding the scope of ePHI is critical for compliance with HIPAA regulations, as it dictates how healthcare organizations must handle and safeguard this type of information to protect patient privacy and data security.