Which of the following services is HIPAA-compliant for sharing PHI?

The choice of encrypted emails as a HIPAA-compliant method for sharing protected health information (PHI) is based on the requirement to ensure confidentiality and integrity of sensitive health data during transmission. Encrypted emails provide an added layer of security by encoding the information, making it unreadable to unauthorized individuals. This aligns with HIPAA's Privacy Rule and Security Rule, which mandate that PHI must be protected against unauthorized access.

When emails are encrypted, even if they are intercepted, the contents will remain secure and inaccessible without the proper decryption keys. This measure helps protect patient privacy and comply with HIPAA's stringent standards for safeguarding health information.

In contrast, public cloud storage services may not be specifically designed to comply with HIPAA regulations unless they have appropriate safeguards and agreements in place. Random text messaging and standard email services do not typically include encryption by default, making them less secure choices for transmitting PHI as they can be susceptible to interception and unauthorized access. Thus, encrypted emails stand out as the most secure and compliant method for sharing PHI in this scenario.