Limited Data Set (LDS)
A covered entity may disclose a LDS for public health purposes, including those that are emergency preparedness activities. The covered entity must have a data use agreement in order to disclose the LDS.
A LDS is protected health information that excludes the following direct identifiers of the individual or of relatives, employers, or household members of the individual:
- Names
- Postal address information, other than town or city, State, and zip code
- Telephone numbers
- Fax numbers
- Electronic mail addresses
- Social Security numbers
- Medical record numbers
- Health-plan beneficiary numbers
- Account numbers
- Certificate and license numbers
- Vehicle identifiers and serial numbers, including license plate numbers
- Device identifiers and serial numbers
- Web Universal Resource Locators (URLs)
- Internet Protocol (IP) address numbers
- Biometric identifies including fingerprints and voice prints
- Full-face photographic images and any comparable image
