PHI and PII Explained
While both PHI (Protected Health Information) and PII (Personally Identifiable Information) refer to sensitive personal data, they have distinct definitions and are governed by different regulations.
What is PII?
PII is any information that can identify an individual. It's a broad category that applies across all industries and is regulated by various laws including GDPR, CCPA, and others.
What is PHI?
PHI is a subset of PII that specifically relates to health information. It's regulated by HIPAA in the United States and applies only to covered entities and their business associates.
Key Differences
| Aspect | PII | PHI |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | All industries | Healthcare only |
| Primary Regulation | GDPR, CCPA, etc. | HIPAA |
| Coverage | Any identifying data | Health-related data |
Overlap Between PHI and PII
All PHI is PII, but not all PII is PHI. For example, a Social Security Number is PII in any context, but only becomes PHI when linked to health information in a healthcare setting.
Why This Matters
Understanding the distinction helps organizations apply the correct compliance frameworks. Healthcare organizations need to comply with both HIPAA for PHI and broader privacy laws for general PII.