Which of the following is an example of identifiable patient information?

The identification of patient information is crucial in the context of HIPAA because it dictates how protected health information (PHI) must be handled. An insurance ID number is a specific identifier that is unique to an individual and directly ties to a patient’s health records. This number not only indicates eligibility for medical services but is also linked to numerous patient transactions, making it a clear example of identifiable patient information.

Options like surgery type, health insurance premium, and hospital location do not, by themselves, uniquely identify an individual patient. Surgery type relates to a procedure rather than directly to a patient, health insurance premium is more about the financial aspect of the insurance policy, and hospital location can pertain to many individuals, thereby lacking specificity. Thus, the insurance ID number stands out as the only item that can reliably be used to identify an individual patient within the context of protected health information.