How many personal identifiers are associated with health information under HIPAA?

Under HIPAA, there are 18 specific personal identifiers that are associated with health information and are considered protected health information (PHI). These identifiers are used to ensure that individuals’ health information remains confidential and secure. The list includes items such as names, geographic subdivisions smaller than a state, any dates related to an individual (like birth dates), phone numbers, email addresses, Social Security numbers, medical record numbers, health plan beneficiary numbers, account numbers, certificate/license numbers, vehicle identifiers, device identifiers, web URLs, IP addresses, and other unique identifying numbers, characteristics, or codes.

Recognizing these identifiers is crucial for compliance with HIPAA regulations, as they help to determine what information is considered sensitive and ensures that organizations handle personal health information appropriately. The inclusion of various types of identifiers underscores the importance of safeguarding not just obvious data like names and Social Security numbers, but also less apparent identifiers that could be linked back to individuals.