Which of the following statements about patient lists is true?

The correct statement regarding patient lists is that they can be considered protected health information (PHI) if they indicate treatment occurrence. Under HIPAA regulations, PHI is defined as any information that relates to the past, present, or future physical or mental health condition of an individual, the provision of healthcare to an individual, or the past, present, or future payment for the provision of healthcare to an individual.

In scenarios where a patient list includes details such as treatment dates, procedures undertaken, or other specifics that reveal whether a patient has received medical care, those records implicate the individual's health status. Therefore, even if names are not present, the mere association of particular treatment events with a patient can allow for the identification of that individual, especially when combined with other available information or data sets.

Other options do not accurately reflect how patient lists are interpreted concerning HIPAA. There are circumstances in which patient lists might not be PHI, particularly if they contain no identifying information nor context linking the data to an individual's healthcare situation or condition. However, if the list aligns with any indication or general information about treatment, it becomes sensitive data under HIPAA protections.