Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) Practice Exam

The HIPAA Security Standards specifically focus on which of the following?

1. Audio recordings of PHI

2. Electronic forms of PHI

3. Written documentation of PHI

4. All types of PHI management

The correct answer is: Electronic forms of PHI

The HIPAA Security Standards are designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of electronic protected health information (ePHI). They specifically target the electronic forms of PHI because this is where vulnerabilities often exist due to the use of technology. The standards set forth regulatory requirements for securing ePHI, encompassing administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. As the healthcare industry increasingly relies on electronic systems to store and transmit patient information, these standards encompass measures that must be taken to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access, breaches, and other risks associated with electronic data handling. In contrast, while audio recordings and written documentation of PHI are important, they are primarily governed under different sections of HIPAA that deal with privacy and physical security standards rather than the specific Security Standards which are concerned with electronic data. Therefore, the correct emphasis of the HIPAA Security Standards is on protecting electronic forms of PHI.