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12 CFR § 232.1 - Scope, general prohibition and definitions.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t12/s232.1"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "12 CFR § 232.1 - Scope, general prohibition and definitions."
title_number: 12
title_name: "Banks and Banking"
section_number: "232.1"
section_name: "Scope, general prohibition and definitions."
chapter_name: "FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "BOARD OF GOVERNORS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM"
part_number: "232"
part_name: "OBTAINING AND USING MEDICAL INFORMATION IN CONNECTION WITH CREDIT (REGULATION FF)"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "15 U.S.C. 1681b."
regulatory_source: "70 FR 70682, Nov. 22, 2005, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "232"
---

# 232.1 Scope, general prohibition and definitions.

(a) *Scope.* This part applies to creditors, as defined in paragraph (c)(3) of this section, except for creditors that are subject to §§ 41.30, 222.30, 334.30, 571.30, or 717.30.

(b) *In general.* A creditor may not obtain or use medical information pertaining to a consumer in connection with any determination of the consumer's eligibility, or continued eligibility, for credit, except as provided in this section.

(c) *Definitions.* (1) *Consumer* means an individual.

(2) *Credit* has the same meaning as in section 702 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691a.

(3) *Creditor* has the same meaning as in section 702 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, 15 U.S.C. 1691a.

(4) *Eligibility, or continued eligibility, for credit* means the consumer's qualification or fitness to receive, or continue to receive, credit, including the terms on which credit is offered. The term does not include:

(i) Any determination of the consumer's qualification or fitness for employment, insurance (other than a credit insurance product), or other non-credit products or services;

(ii) Authorizing, processing, or documenting a payment or transaction on behalf of the consumer in a manner that does not involve a determination of the consumer's eligibility, or continued eligibility, for credit; or

(iii) Maintaining or servicing the consumer's account in a manner that does not involve a determination of the consumer's eligibility, or continued eligibility, for credit.

(5) *Medical information* means:

(i) Information or data, whether oral or recorded, in any form or medium, created by or derived from a health care provider or the consumer, that relates to—

(A) The past, present, or future physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition of an individual;

(B) The provision of health care to an individual; or

(C) The payment for the provision of health care to an individual.

(ii) The term does not include:

(A) The age or gender of a consumer;

(B) Demographic information about the consumer, including a consumer's residence address or e-mail address;

(C) Any other information about a consumer that does not relate to the physical, mental, or behavioral health or condition of a consumer, including the existence or value of any insurance policy; or

(D) Information that does not identify a specific consumer.

(6) *Person* means any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, estate cooperative, association, government or governmental subdivision or agency, or other entity.