Clearing, purging, and destroying data refer to different methods of removing or disposing of protected health information (PHI) as outlined in the Certificate of Disposition for CMS Data form. Clearing refers to rendering PHI unreadable, indecipherable, and otherwise unable to be reconstructed. Purging refers to removing PHI from a system or storage media so that it can no longer be accessed or retrieved. Destroying refers to physically destroying the media on which PHI is stored, making it unreadable and unusable. It is important to follow the correct method for disposing of CMS data based on the requirements of the Certificate of Disposition form and applicable regulations.