HIPAA Quiz: Questions And Answers

Workforce members are required to inform the Privacy Officer if they become aware of any privacy incident that, upon further investigation, could potentially be classified as a breach of unsecured Protected Health Information (PHI). This means that if there is any suspicion or indication that PHI may have been compromised, it is their responsibility to report it to the Privacy Officer for further evaluation and appropriate action.

The minimum necessary rule refers to the principle that employees should only access and view health information that is required for them to carry out their job responsibilities. This means that they should not unnecessarily access or view information that is not relevant to their job duties. The other options mentioned in the question, such as looking up a co-worker's record for personal reasons or setting specific minimum requirements for medical records or patient visits, do not align with the concept of the minimum necessary rule.

All of the given scenarios can be considered examples of HIPAA violations and breaches of unsecured PHI. Accessing a computer to obtain information on a neighbor without proper authorization violates HIPAA regulations. Releasing a copy of a record to an unauthorized recipient also violates HIPAA regulations as it involves the unauthorized disclosure of PHI. Additionally, disclosing PHI in a conversation with someone outside of the Health Department without proper authorization is a breach of HIPAA rules. Therefore, all of the above scenarios demonstrate potential HIPAA violations and breaches of unsecured PHI.

Access to PHI (Protected Health Information) is determined by an individual's role in the organization. Different roles within an organization require varying levels of access to PHI based on job responsibilities and the need to know. This ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive patient information, maintaining confidentiality and privacy. Factors such as length of employment, job evaluations, and questionnaire responses may be considered in determining access levels, but the primary determinant is the individual's role in the organization.

PHI stands for Protected Health Information. It refers to any individually identifiable health information that is created, received, maintained, or transmitted by a healthcare provider. This includes information about a person's past, present, or future physical or mental health, as well as any healthcare services provided to them. PHI is protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) to ensure the privacy and security of individuals' health information. Therefore, the correct answer is Protected Health Information.

A report containing the number of HIV cases in the state of TN is not an example of PHI because it does not contain any personally identifiable information about individual patients. PHI refers to any information that can be used to identify an individual, such as their name, address, social security number, or medical record number. In this case, the report only contains aggregate data about the number of cases, without any specific patient information.

The requirement for a computer to be secured to a desk with an anti-theft device is not related to computer security. Computer security primarily focuses on protecting data and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. Password protection, secure transmission of sensitive information, and privacy measures for displaying PHI are all important aspects of computer security. However, physically securing a computer to a desk does not directly contribute to protecting its data or preventing unauthorized access.

The statement is false because PHI (Protected Health Information) in any form, whether written or verbal, is not considered secure. PHI contains sensitive and confidential information about an individual's health status, medical history, and treatment, and therefore, it must be protected to ensure privacy and prevent unauthorized access or disclosure. Various security measures, such as encryption, access controls, and secure communication channels, are required to maintain the security of PHI.

The Notice of Privacy Practices is offered to the patient during their first visit. This document outlines how a healthcare provider may use and disclose a patient's protected health information. It informs the patient about their rights regarding their medical information and explains how their information will be safeguarded. By offering this notice during the first visit, healthcare providers ensure that patients are aware of their privacy rights and have the opportunity to review and ask questions about the provider's privacy practices.

Passwords are required to be changed every 90 days to enhance security. Regularly changing passwords reduces the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive information. If a password remains the same for a long period, it becomes more susceptible to being cracked or guessed by attackers. By enforcing regular password changes, the system ensures that users have to create new, unique passwords periodically, making it harder for hackers to gain unauthorized access to accounts or systems.