What is an example of PHI that does need protection?

Protected Health Information (PHI) encompasses any individually identifiable health information that relates to an individual's health status, provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare that is maintained by a covered entity or business associate. Among the options presented, email addresses of patients are a clear example of PHI that requires protection because they are directly linked to an individual and can be used to identify that person.

Email addresses are often used for communication regarding medical services, appointment reminders, and billing information, which makes them sensitive as they can reveal details about a person's healthcare interactions. The unauthorized disclosure of this information could lead to potential privacy violations or identity theft, which is why strict regulations, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), mandate their protection.

In contrast, names of healthcare facilities, general health statistics, and news articles about health trends do not typically identify individual patients and generally fall outside the scope of PHI. While these items may be related to healthcare, they do not represent personal information that could compromise a patient's privacy if disclosed. Therefore, the email addresses of patients are indeed a form of PHI that must be safeguarded according to relevant health privacy laws.