What is the definition of Individually Identifiable Health Information (IIHI)?

Individually Identifiable Health Information (IIHI) is defined as health information that connects to a specific individual, allowing that person to be identified either directly or indirectly. This definition emphasizes the importance of recognizing data that, when used alone or combined with other information, could reveal the identity of an individual.

The relevance of this definition lies in its implications for privacy and confidentiality under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) regulations. By identifying health information that qualifies as IIHI, healthcare providers and organizations can ensure they are handling such data with the necessary safeguards to protect patient privacy.

In contrast, general health statistics, data collected for healthcare research, and aggregated healthcare data do not typically relate to a specific individual’s identifying information. These types of information generally lack the detail needed to trace back to an individual and thereby do not fall under the same stringent privacy protections as IIHI.