Final answer:
Patients' protected information under HIPPA is called Protected Health Information, or PHI. It includes any form of health information linked to an individual that is kept confidential by entities like healthcare providers and insurers.
Step-by-step explanation:
When dealing with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), patients protected information is called PHI, which stands for Protected Health Information. PHI is any health information in any form, including physical records and electronic records, that could be linked to a specific individual and is used by entities covered under HIPPA, such as healthcare providers and insurance companies, to maintain strict confidentiality of patient records. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is b. PHI. It is crucial for these entities to protect PHI to comply with legal requirements and to protect the privacy rights of patients.