Which type of information does protected health information (PHI) include?

Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses a wide range of personal and sensitive data related to an individual's health status, healthcare provision, or payment for healthcare services. This includes any identifiable information about a person's medical and health history, such as diagnoses, treatment plans, test results, and any other data that can directly or indirectly identify an individual.

The inclusion of an individual's medical and health history under PHI is vital because it is crucial for maintaining patient confidentiality and safeguarding sensitive health data from unauthorized access. Other options, while related to healthcare, do not involve personal data about individuals; for instance, published health studies refer to research findings that do not disclose identifiable patient information, healthcare provider credentials pertain to professional qualifications that do not involve patient-specific data, and hospital policies and procedures outline operational standards and don’t contain personal health information. Thus, the appropriate choice that aligns with the definition of PHI is indeed the individual's medical and health history.