What is 'de-identified' information under HIPAA?

De-identified information under HIPAA refers specifically to health information that has been processed in such a way that it does not identify an individual either directly or indirectly, and there is no reasonable basis for identifying an individual from that information. This definition is crucial for ensuring patient privacy while allowing for the use of health data in research, public health reporting, and other activities that do not require an individual's identity to be known.

To be considered de-identified, information must either remove certain identifiers or fall under a safe harbor provision that meets the requirements of the Privacy Rule. This enables organizations to utilize data while preserving confidentiality and complying with HIPAA regulations.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe de-identified information as defined by HIPAA. For example, information stored in a secure facility or data that is accessible to the public do not specifically address the identity aspect that is central to de-identification. While access control and location (like a secure facility) are also important for protecting health information, they do not qualify the data as de-identified. Thus, the focus of de-identification is specifically on the information’s ability to protect individual identities.