Which of the following best describes PHI?

Protected Health Information (PHI) refers specifically to health information that can be linked to an individual, making it unique and identifiable. This includes any data that relates to a person's past, present, or future physical or mental health condition, the provision of healthcare, or payment for healthcare that can associate the information with a specific individual.

PHI is protected under laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which sets stringent guidelines on how this information can be shared and safeguarded. The other options describe categories of health information that do not meet the specific criteria of PHI. For example, information that can be shared with anyone lacks the necessary confidentiality aspect of PHI, while health information not protected by law falls outside the stringent protections that PHI requires. Additionally, general health statistics available to the public do not pertain to specific individuals and hence do not qualify as PHI.