Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

If a patient does not sign the receipt of a Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP), can the physician refuse to treat the patient under HIPAA law?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Only in non-emergency cases

4. Only if the patient is a minor

The correct answer is: No

Under HIPAA law, the patient’s refusal to sign the receipt of the Notice of Privacy Practices (NOPP) does not give the physician the grounds to refuse treatment. HIPAA requires health care providers to have a NOPP that outlines how they will handle and protect a patient's health information, but signing an acknowledgment of receipt of that notice is not a condition for receiving medical treatment. The primary purpose of the NOPP is to inform patients of their rights under HIPAA and how their information may be used, rather than serve as a consent form for treatment. If a patient is in need of emergency treatment, the law also emphasizes that care must be provided regardless of the signing of the NOPP. Thus, while a provider may encourage patients to acknowledge receipt of the NOPP for their records, refusing to treat a patient solely based on their decision to not sign would be contrary to HIPAA regulations and ethical medical practices. Understanding this aspect of patient rights under HIPAA is crucial for any healthcare provider.