Which of the following is considered protected health information (PHI)?

Protected Health Information (PHI) is defined as any information in a medical context that can be used to identify an individual and that relates to their health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care. This includes a wide range of personal data regarding a patient.

Patient billing records are considered PHI because they contain identifiable information such as the patient's name, contact details, health insurance information, and details about the services rendered and payments made. This information is sensitive and is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

On the other hand, staff performance reviews do not relate directly to patient health information; they focus on employee evaluation and performance metrics. Hospital policy documents consist of general procedures and guidelines that do not pertain to individual patient care or identifiable health information. Lastly, medical equipment inventory pertains to physical assets of the hospital and does not involve individual patient data, making it irrelevant in the context of PHI. Therefore, patient billing records are the only choice that qualifies as protected health information.