Which of the following is considered personal health information protected under HIPAA?

Personal health information, as defined by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), encompasses a wide range of identifiable information related to an individual's health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care. This includes any details that can identify a patient and garner insight into their health history or mental health status.

Option B is indeed correct because information related to a patient's past mental health is directly tied to that individual and falls within the realm of personal health information. Such information can reveal sensitive details about a patient's psychological well-being, treatment history, and the type of healthcare services they have received. As a result, it requires strict confidentiality and protection under HIPAA regulations to maintain patient privacy.

In contrast, the other options reference either deidentified information or content that cannot be used to identify the individual. Deidentified photographs and studies that do not allow for patient identification are specifically excluded from HIPAA protections since they do not contain identifying markers. Similarly, while posts on social media sites may be personal, they also might not necessarily be governed by HIPAA unless they reveal identifiable health information and are accessed or used by covered entities. Thus, B is correctly identified as personal health information protected under HIPAA.